Variable magnification optical system, optical device, and production method for variable magnification optical system

ABSTRACT

Composing, in order from an object side: a first lens group having positive refractive power; a second lens group having negative refractive power; a third lens group having positive refractive power; a fourth lens group having positive refractive power and a fifth lens group; upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state, a distance between the first lens group and the second lens group, a distance between the second lens group and the third lens group, a distance between the third lens group and the fourth lens group and a distance between the fourth lens group and the fifth lens group being varied, and predetermined conditional expression being satisfied, thereby providing a small-size variable magnification optical system having a high zoom ratio and a high optical performance, an optical apparatus, and a method for manufacturing the variable magnification optical system.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a variable magnification opticalsystem, an optical device, and a production method for the variablemagnification optical system.

BACKGROUND ART

There have been proposed, as a variable magnification optical systemsuitable for an interchangeable lens for cameras, a digital stillcamera, a video camera or the like, many variable magnification opticalsystems which comprise a most object side lens group having positiverefractive power (for example, see Japanese Patent application Laid-OpenNo. 2007-292994).

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT Patent Document

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent application Laid-Open Gazette No.2007-292994

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

However, in the conventional variable magnification optical system asdescribed above, there was a problem that it was difficult to conductdownsizing while retaining a high zoom ratio and also attaining asufficiently excellent optical performance.

The present invention is made in view of the above-described problem,and has an object to provide a small-size variable magnification opticalsystem having a high zoom ratio and an excellent optical performance, anoptical apparatus, and a method for manufacturing the variablemagnification optical system.

Means for Solving the Problem

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the presentinvention, there is provided a variable magnification optical systemcomprising, in order from an object side: a first lens group havingpositive refractive power; a second lens group having negativerefractive power; a third lens group having positive refractive power; afourth lens group having positive refractive power; and a fifth lensgroup;

upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state, adistance between the first lens group and the second lens group, adistance between the second lens group and the third lens group, adistance between the third lens group and the fourth lens group and adistance between the fourth lens group and the fifth lens group beingvaried;

the following conditional expressions being satisfied:

0.650<(−f2)/fw<1.240

0.410<f3/f4<1.000

where fw denotes a focal length of the variable magnification opticalsystem in the wide-angle end state, f2 denotes a focal length of thesecond lens group, f3 denotes a focal length of the third lens group,and f4 denotes a focal length of the fourth lens group.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided avariable magnification optical system comprising, in order from anobject side: a first lens group having positive refractive power; asecond lens group having negative refractive power; a third lens grouphaving positive refractive power; a fourth lens group having positiverefractive power; and a fifth lens group;

upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state, adistance between the first lens group and the second lens group, adistance between the second lens group and the third lens group, adistance between the third lens group and the fourth lens group and adistance between the fourth lens group and the fifth lens group beingvaried;

the following conditional expressions being satisfied:

0.650<(−f2)/fw<1.240

−0.050<(d3t−d3w)/fw<0.750

where fw denotes a focal length of the variable magnification opticalsystem in the wide-angle end state, f2 denotes a focal length of thesecond lens group, d3w denotes a distance from a lens surface on a mostimage side of the third lens group to a lens surface on a most objectside of the fourth lens group in the wide-angle end state, and d3tdenotes a distance from the lens surface on the most image side of thethird lens group to the lens surface on the most object side of thefourth lens group in the telephoto end state.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided avariable magnification optical system comprising, in order from anobject side: a first lens group having positive refractive power; asecond lens group having negative refractive power; a third lens grouphaving positive refractive power; a fourth lens group having positiverefractive power; and a fifth lens group;

upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state, adistance between the first lens group and the second lens group, adistance between the second lens group and the third lens group, adistance between the third lens group and the fourth lens group and adistance between the fourth lens group and the fifth lens group beingvaried;

the following conditional expressions being satisfied:

4.000<(TLt−TLw)/fw<7.000

−0.010<(d3t−d3w)/ft<0.130

where fw denotes a focal length of the variable magnification opticalsystem in the wide-angle end state, ft denotes a focal length of thevariable magnification optical system in the telephoto end state, TLwdenotes a distance from a lens surface on a most object side of thefirst lens group to an image plane in the wide-angle end state, TLtdenotes a distance from the lens surface on the most object side of thefirst lens group to the image plane in the telephoto end state, d3wdenotes a distance from a lens surface on a most image side of the thirdlens group to a lens surface on a most object side of the fourth lensgroup in the wide-angle end state, and d3t denotes a distance from thelens surface on the most image side of the third lens group to the lenssurface on the most object side of the fourth lens group in thetelephoto end state.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided avariable magnification optical system comprising, in order from anobject side: a first lens group having positive refractive power; asecond lens group having negative refractive power; an aperture stop; athird lens group having positive refractive power; a fourth lens grouphaving positive refractive power; and a fifth lens group;

upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state, adistance between the first lens group and the second lens group, adistance between the second lens group and the third lens group, adistance between the third lens group and the fourth lens group and adistance between the fourth lens group and the fifth lens group beingvaried, and a distance between the aperture stop and the fourth lensgroup being fixed.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided anoptical apparatus equipped with the variable magnification opticalsystem.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a methodfor manufacturing a variable magnification optical system comprising, inorder from an object side: a first lens group having positive refractivepower; a second lens group having negative refractive power; a thirdlens group having positive refractive power; a fourth lens group havingpositive refractive power; and a fifth lens group; the method comprisingthe steps of:

arranging the second lens group, the third lens group and the fourthlens group to satisfy the undermentioned conditional expressions; and

arranging, upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto endstate, a distance between the first lens group and the second lensgroup, a distance between the second lens group and the third lensgroup, a distance between the third lens group and the fourth lens groupand a distance between the fourth lens group and the fifth lens group tobe varied:

0.650<(−f2)/fw<1.240

0.410<f3/f4<1.000

where fw denotes a focal length of the variable magnification opticalsystem in the wide-angle end state, f2 denotes a focal length of thesecond lens group, f3 denotes a focal length of the third lens group,and f4 denotes a focal length of the fourth lens group.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a methodfor manufacturing a variable magnification optical system comprising, inorder from an object side: a first lens group having positive refractivepower; a second lens group having negative refractive power; a thirdlens group having positive refractive power; a fourth lens group havingpositive refractive power; and a fifth lens group; the method comprisingthe steps of:

-   -   arranging the second lens group, the third lens group and the        fourth lens group to satisfy the undermentioned conditional        expressions; and

arranging, upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto endstate, a distance between the first lens group and the second lensgroup, a distance between the second lens group and the third lensgroup, a distance between the third lens group and the fourth lens groupand a distance between the fourth lens group and the fifth lens group tobe varied:

0.650<(−f2)/fw<1.240

−0.050<(d3t−d3w)/fw<0.750

where fw denotes a focal length of the variable magnification opticalsystem in the wide-angle end state, f2 denotes a focal length of thesecond lens group, d3w denotes a distance from a lens surface on a mostimage side of the third lens group to a lens surface on a most objectside of the fourth lens group in the wide-angle end state, and d3tdenotes a distance from the lens surface on the most image side of thethird lens group to the lens surface on the most object side of thefourth lens group in the telephoto end state.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a methodfor manufacturing a variable magnification optical system comprising, inorder from an object side: a first lens group having positive refractivepower; a second lens group having negative refractive power; a thirdlens group having positive refractive power; a fourth lens group havingpositive refractive power; and a fifth lens group; the method comprisingthe steps of:

arranging the first lens group, the second lens group, the third lensgroup, the fourth lens group and the fifth lens group to satisfy theundermentioned conditional expressions; and

arranging, upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto endstate, a distance between the first lens group and the second lensgroup, a distance between the second lens group and the third lensgroup, a distance between the third lens group and the fourth lens groupand a distance between the fourth lens group and the fifth lens group tobe varied:

4.000<(TLt−TLw)/fw<7.000

−0.010<(d3t−d3w)/ft<0.130

where fw denotes a focal length of the variable magnification opticalsystem in the wide-angle end state, ft denotes a focal length of thevariable magnification optical system in the telephoto end state, TLwdenotes a distance from a lens surface on a most object side of thefirst lens group to an image plane in the wide-angle end state, TLtdenotes a distance from the lens surface on the most object side of thefirst lens group to an image plane in the telephoto end state, d3wdenotes a distance from a lens surface on a most image side of the thirdlens group to a lens surface on a most object side of the fourth lensgroup in the wide-angle end state, and d3t denotes a distance from thelens surface on the most image side of the third lens group to the lenssurface on the most object side of the fourth lens group in thetelephoto end state.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a methodfor manufacturing a variable magnification optical system comprising, inorder from an object side: a first lens group having positive refractivepower; a second lens group having negative refractive power; an aperturestop; a third lens group having positive refractive power; a fourth lensgroup having positive refractive power; and a fifth lens group; themethod comprising the steps of:

arranging, upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto endstate, a distance between the first lens group and the second lensgroup, a distance between the second lens group and the third lensgroup, a distance between the third lens group and the fourth lens groupand a distance between the fourth lens group and the fifth lens group tobe varied, and a distance between the aperture stop and the fourth lensgroup to be fixed.

Effect of the Invention

According to the present invention, there can be provided a small-sizevariable magnification optical system capable of realizing a high zoomratio and an excellent optical performance, an optical apparatus, and amethod for manufacturing the variable magnification optical system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D and 1E are sectional views showing a variablemagnification optical system according to a First Example of the firstto fourth embodiments of the present application, in a wide-angle endstate, in a first intermediate focal length state, in a secondintermediate focal length state, in a third intermediate focal lengthstate and in a telephoto end state, respectively.

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C are graphs showing various aberrations of thevariable magnification optical system according to the First Example ofthe first to fourth embodiments of the present application upon focusingon an infinite distance object, in the wide-angle end state, in thefirst intermediate focal length state, and in the second intermediatefocal length state, respectively.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are graphs showing various aberrations of the variablemagnification optical system according to the First Example of the firstto fourth embodiments of the present application upon focusing on theinfinite distance object, in the third intermediate focal length stateand in the telephoto end state, respectively.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E are sectional views showing a variablemagnification optical system according to a Second Example of the firstto fourth embodiments of the present application, in a wide-angle endstate, in a first intermediate focal length state, in a secondintermediate focal length state, in a third intermediate focal lengthstate and in a telephoto end state, respectively.

FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C are graphs showing various aberrations of thevariable magnification optical system according to the Second Example ofthe first to fourth embodiments of the present application upon focusingon an infinite distance object, in the wide-angle end state, in thefirst intermediate focal length state, and in the second intermediatefocal length state, respectively.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are graphs showing various aberrations of the variablemagnification optical system according to the Second Example of thefirst to fourth embodiments of the present application upon focusing onthe infinite distance object, in the third intermediate focal lengthstate and in the telephoto end state, respectively.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D and 7E are sectional views showing a variablemagnification optical system according to a Third Example of the firstto fourth embodiments of the present application, in a wide-angle endstate, in a first intermediate focal length state, in a secondintermediate focal length state, in a third intermediate focal lengthstate and in a telephoto end state, respectively.

FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C are graphs showing various aberrations of thevariable magnification optical system according to the Third Example ofthe first to fourth embodiments of the present application upon focusingon an infinite distance object, in the wide-angle end state, in thefirst intermediate focal length state, and in the second intermediatefocal length state, respectively.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are graphs showing various aberrations of the variablemagnification optical system according to the Third Example of the firstto fourth embodiments of the present application upon focusing on theinfinite distance object, in the third intermediate focal length stateand in the telephoto end state, respectively.

FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D and 10E are sectional views showing a variablemagnification optical system according to a Fourth Example of the firstto fourth embodiments of the present application, in a wide-angle endstate, in a first intermediate focal length state, in a secondintermediate focal length state, in a third intermediate focal lengthstate and in a telephoto end state, respectively.

FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C are graphs showing various aberrations of thevariable magnification optical system according to the Fourth Example ofthe first to fourth embodiments of the present application upon focusingon an infinite distance object, in the wide-angle end state, in thefirst intermediate focal length state, and in the second intermediatefocal length state, respectively.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are graphs showing various aberrations of the variablemagnification optical system according to the Fourth Example of thefirst to fourth embodiments of the present application upon focusing onthe infinite distance object, in the third intermediate focal lengthstate and in the telephoto end state, respectively.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a construction of a camera equipped withthe variable magnification optical system according to the first tofourth embodiments of the present application

FIG. 14 is a flowchart schematically showing a method for manufacturingthe variable magnification optical system according to the firstembodiment of the present application.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart schematically showing a method for manufacturingthe variable magnification optical system according to the secondembodiment of the present application.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart schematically showing a method for manufacturingthe variable magnification optical system according to the thirdembodiment of the present application.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart schematically showing a method for manufacturingthe variable magnification optical system according to the fourthembodiment of the present application.

EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A variable magnification optical system, an optical apparatus and amethod for manufacturing the variable magnification optical system,according to the first to fourth embodiments of the present applicationare explained below.

The variable magnification optical system according to the firstembodiment of the present application comprises, in order from an objectside: a first lens group having positive refractive power; a second lensgroup having negative refractive power; a third lens group havingpositive refractive power; a fourth lens group having positiverefractive power; and a fifth lens group; wherein upon zooming from awide-angle end state to a telephoto end state, a distance between thefirst lens group and the second lens group, a distance between thesecond lens group and the third lens group, a distance between the thirdlens group and the fourth lens group and a distance between the fourthlens group and the fifth lens group are varied. With this configuration,the variable magnification optical system of the present application canrealize zooming from the wide angle end state to the telephoto end stateand suppress respective variations in distortion, astigmatism andspherical aberration, associated with the zooming.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thefirst embodiment of the present application, the following conditionalexpressions (1-1) and (1-2) are satisfied:

0.650<(−f2)/fw<1.240  (1-1)

0.410<f3/f4<1.000  (1-2)

where fw denotes a focal length of the variable magnification opticalsystem in the wide-angle end state, f2 denotes a focal length of thesecond lens group, f3 denotes a focal length of the third lens group,and f4 denotes a focal length of the fourth lens group.

The conditional expression (1-1) defines an adequate range of the focallength of the second lens group. With satisfying the conditionalexpression (1-1), the variable magnification optical system according tothe first embodiment of the present application can suppress variationsin spherical aberration and astigmatism upon zooming.

In the variable magnification optical system according to the firstembodiment of the present application, when the value of (−f2)/fw isequal to or falls below the lower limit value of the conditionalexpression (1-1), it becomes difficult to suppress variations inspherical aberration and astigmatism caused in the second lens groupupon zooming, so that a high optical performance cannot be realized.Meanwhile, in order to attain the advantageous effect of the presentapplication more surely, it is more preferable to set the lower limitvalue of the conditional expression (1-1) to 0.760.

On the other hand, in the variable magnification optical systemaccording to the first embodiment of the present application, when thevalue of (−f2)/fw is equal to or exceeds the upper limit value of theconditional expression (1-1), it becomes necessary to increase an amountof variation in distance between the first lens group and the secondlens group upon zooming so as to obtain a predetermined zoom ratio. Forthis reason, it becomes difficult to realize downsizing, and inaddition, and also a height from the optical axis of the off-axis beammade incident on the second lens group from the first lens group varieslargely associated with zooming. Consequently, an excessive variation inastigmatism is caused upon zooming, so that a high optical performancecannot be realized. Meanwhile, in order to attain the advantageouseffect of the present application more surely, it is more preferable toset the upper limit value of the conditional expression (1-1) to 1.180.Further, in order to attain the advantageous effect of the presentapplication more surely, it is more preferable to set the upper limitvalue of the conditional expression (1-1) to 1.145.

The conditional expression (1-2) defines an adequate range of a ratio ofthe focal length of the third lens group to that of the fourth lensgroup. With satisfying the conditional expression (1-2), the variablemagnification optical system according to the first embodiment of thepresent application can suppress variations in spherical aberration andastigmatism upon zooming.

In the variable magnification optical system according to the firstembodiment of the present application, when the value of f3/f4 is equalto or falls below the lower limit value of the conditional expression(1-2), it becomes difficult to suppress variations in sphericalaberration and astigmatism caused in the third lens group upon zooming,so that a high optical performance cannot be realized. Meanwhile, inorder to attain the advantageous effect of the present application moresurely, it is more preferable to set the lower limit value of theconditional expression (1-2) to 0.550.

On the other hand, in the variable magnification optical systemaccording to the first embodiment of the present application, when thevalue of f3/f4 is equal to or exceeds the upper limit value of theconditional expression (1-2), it becomes difficult to suppressvariations in spherical aberration and astigmatism caused in the fourthlens group upon zooming, so that a high optical performance cannot berealized. Meanwhile, in order to attain the advantageous effect of thepresent application more surely, it is more preferable to set the upperlimit value of the conditional expression (1-2) to 0.880.

With configuring as described above, it is possible to realize asmall-size variable magnification optical system having a high zoomratio and a high optical performance.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thefirst embodiment of the present application, it is preferable that thefollowing conditional expression (1-3) is satisfied:

−0.050<(d3t−d3w)/fw<0.750  (1-3)

where fw denotes a focal length of the variable magnification opticalsystem in the wide-angle end state, d3w denotes a distance from a lenssurface on a most image side of the third lens group to a lens surfaceon a most object side of the fourth lens group in the wide-angle endstate, and d3t denotes a distance from the lens surface on the mostimage side of the third lens group to the lens surface on the mostobject side of the fourth lens group in the telephoto end state.

The conditional expression (1-3) defines an adequate range of avariation amount, upon zooming, of a distance on the optical axis fromthe lens surface on the most image side of the third lens group to alens surface on the most object side of the fourth lens group, that is,a distance between the third lens group and the fourth lens group. Withsatisfying the conditional expression (1-3), the variable magnificationoptical system according to the first embodiment of the presentapplication can suppress variations in coma aberration and astigmatismupon zooming.

In the variable magnification optical system according to the firstembodiment of the present application, when the value of (d3t−d3w)/fw isequal to or falls below the lower limit value of the conditionalexpression (1-3), it becomes difficult to suppress a variation inastigmatism caused in the third lens group upon zooming, so that a highoptical performance cannot be realized. Meanwhile, in order to attainthe advantageous effect of the present application more surely, it ismore preferable to set the lower limit value of the conditionalexpression (1-3) to 0.000.

On the other hand, in the variable magnification optical systemaccording to the first embodiment of the present application, when thevalue of (d3t−d3w)/fw is equal to or exceeds the upper limit value ofthe conditional expression (1-3), it becomes difficult to suppress avariation in coma aberration caused in the fourth lens group uponzooming, so that a high optical performance cannot be realized.Meanwhile, in order to attain the advantageous effect of the presentapplication more surely, it is more preferable to set the upper limitvalue of the conditional expression (1-3) to 0.500.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thefirst embodiment of the present application, it is preferable that thefirst lens group is moved toward the object side upon zooming from thewide-angle end state to the telephoto end state. With thisconfiguration, it is possible to suppress a variation in height from theoptical axis of an off-axis beam passing through the first lens groupupon zooming. Consequently, it is possible to suppress a variation inastigmatism upon zooming in addition to decrease of a diameter of thefirst lens group.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thefirst embodiment of the present application, it is preferable that thefifth lens group has positive refractive power. With this configuration,a usable magnification of the fifth lens group becomes smaller than anequi-magnification. As a result, it is possible to relatively lengthen acomposite focal length of the first to fourth lens groups, so thatinfluence of decentering coma aberration and the like due toeccentricity caused among the lenses in the first to fourth lens groupsduring manufacturing can be suppressed to be relatively small andthereby a high optical performance can be realized.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thefirst embodiment of the present application, it is preferable that adistance between the first lens group and the second lens group isincreased upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to the telephotoend state. With this configuration, it is possible to make amagnification of the second lens group larger, so that variations inspherical aberration and astigmatism upon zooming can be suppressedwhile realizing a high zoom ratio effectively.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thefirst embodiment of the present application, it is preferable that adistance between the second lens group and the third lens group isdecreased upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to the telephotoend state. With this configuration, it is possible to make a compositemagnification of the third lens group and the fourth lens group larger,so that variations in spherical aberration and astigmatism upon zoomingcan be suppressed while realizing a high zoom ratio effectively.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thefirst embodiment of the present application, it is preferable that adistance between the fourth lens group and the fifth lens group isincreased upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to the telephotoend state. With this configuration, it is possible to make a compositemagnification of the third lens group and the fourth lens group larger,so that variations in spherical aberration and astigmatism upon zoomingcan be suppressed while realizing a high zoom ratio effectively.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thefirst embodiment of the present application, it is preferable that thefifth lens group is fixed in a position upon zooming from the wide-angleend state to the telephoto end state. With this configuration, it ispossible to vary a height from the optical axis of circumferential lightrays made incident on the fifth lens group from the fourth lens groupupon zooming and thereby more excellently suppress a variation inastigmatism upon zooming.

An optical apparatus according to the first embodiment of the presentapplication comprises the variable magnification optical system havingthe above described configuration. By such configuration, it is possibleto realize a small-size optical apparatus having a high zoom ratio and ahigh optical performance.

In a method for manufacturing a variable magnification optical systemaccording to the first embodiment of the present application, thevariable magnification optical system comprises, in order from an objectside: a first lens group having positive refractive power; a second lensgroup having negative refractive power; a third lens group havingpositive refractive power; a fourth lens group having positiverefractive power; and a fifth lens group. The method comprises the stepsof: arranging the second lens group, the third lens group and the fourthlens group to satisfy the undermentioned conditional expressions (1-1)and (1-2); and arranging, upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to atelephoto end state, a distance between the first lens group and thesecond lens group, a distance between the second lens group and thethird lens group, a distance between the third lens group and the fourthlens group and a distance between the fourth lens group and the fifthlens group to be varied:

0.650<(−f2)/fw<1.240  (1-1)

0.410<f3/f4<1.000  (1-2)

where fw denotes a focal length of the variable magnification opticalsystem in the wide-angle end state, f2 denotes a focal length of thesecond lens group, f3 denotes a focal length of the third lens group,and f4 denotes a focal length of the fourth lens group. By suchconfiguration, it is possible to manufacture a small-size variablemagnification system having a high zoom ratio and a high opticalperformance.

A variable magnification optical system, an optical apparatus and themethod for manufacturing the variable magnification optical system,according to the second embodiment of the present application areexplained below.

The variable magnification optical system according to the secondembodiment of the present application comprises, in order from an objectside: a first lens group having positive refractive power; a second lensgroup having negative refractive power; a third lens group havingpositive refractive power; a fourth lens group having positiverefractive power; and a fifth lens group; wherein upon zooming from awide-angle end state to a telephoto end state, a distance between thefirst lens group and the second lens group, a distance between thesecond lens group and the third lens group, a distance between the thirdlens group and the fourth lens group and a distance between the fourthlens group and the fifth lens group are varied. With this configuration,the variable magnification optical system of the present application canrealize zooming from the wide angle end state to the telephoto end stateand suppress respective variations in distortion, astigmatism andspherical aberration, associated with the zooming.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thesecond embodiment of the present application, the following conditionalexpressions (2-1) and (2-2) are satisfied:

0.650<(−f2)/fw<1.240  (2-1)

−0.050<(d3t−d3w)/fw<0.750  (2-2)

where fw denotes a focal length of the variable magnification opticalsystem in the wide-angle end state, f2 denotes a focal length of thesecond lens group, d3w denotes a distance from a lens surface on a mostimage side of the third lens group to a lens surface on a most objectside of the fourth lens group in the wide-angle end state, and d3tdenotes a distance from the lens surface on the most image side of thethird lens group to the lens surface on the most object side of thefourth lens group in the telephoto end state.

The conditional expression (2-1) defines an adequate range of the focallength of the second lens group. With satisfying the conditionalexpression (2-1), the variable magnification optical system according tothe second embodiment of the present application can suppress variationsin spherical aberration and astigmatism upon zooming.

In the variable magnification optical system according to the secondembodiment of the present application, when the value of (−f2)/fw isequal to or falls below the lower limit value of the conditionalexpression (2-1), it becomes difficult to suppress variations inspherical aberration and astigmatism caused in the second lens groupupon zooming, so that a high optical performance cannot be realized.Meanwhile, in order to attain the advantageous effect of the presentapplication more surely, it is more preferable to set the lower limitvalue of the conditional expression (2-1) to 0.760.

On the other hand, in the variable magnification optical systemaccording to the second embodiment of the present application, when thevalue of (−f2)/fw is equal to or exceeds the upper limit value of theconditional expression (2-1), it becomes necessary to increase an amountof variation in distance between the first lens group and the secondlens group upon zooming so as to obtain a predetermined zoom ratio. Forthis reason, it becomes difficult to realize downsizing, and inaddition, height from the optical axis of an off-axis beam made incidenton the second lens group from the first lens group varies largelyassociated with zooming. Consequently, an excessive variation inastigmatism is caused, so that a high optical performance cannot berealized. Meanwhile, in order to attain the advantageous effect of thepresent application more surely, it is more preferable to set the upperlimit value of the conditional expression (2-1) to 1.180. Further, inorder to attain the advantageous effect of the present application moresurely, it is more preferable to set the upper limit value of theconditional expression (2-1) to 1.145.

The conditional expression (2-2) defines an adequate range of avariation amount, upon zooming, of a distance on the optical axis fromthe lens surface on the most image side of the third lens group to thelens surface on the most object side of the fourth lens group, that is,a distance between the third lens group and the fourth lens group. Withsatisfying the conditional expression (2-2), the variable magnificationoptical system according to the second embodiment of the presentapplication can suppress variations in coma aberration and astigmatismupon zooming.

In the variable magnification optical system according to the secondembodiment of the present application, when the value of (d3t−d3w)/fw isequal to or falls below the lower limit value of the conditionalexpression (2-2), it becomes difficult to suppress a variation inastigmatism caused in the third lens group upon zooming, so that a highoptical performance cannot be realized. Meanwhile, in order to attainthe advantageous effect of the present application more surely, it ismore preferable to set the lower limit value of the conditionalexpression (2-2) to 0.000.

On the other hand, in the variable magnification optical systemaccording to the second embodiment of the present application, when thevalue of (d3t−d3w)/fw is equal to or exceeds the upper limit value ofthe conditional expression (2-2), it becomes difficult to suppress avariation in coma aberration caused in the fourth lens group uponzooming, so that a high optical performance cannot be realized.Meanwhile, in order to attain the advantageous effect of the presentapplication more surely, it is more preferable to set the upper limitvalue of the conditional expression (2-2) to 0.500.

With configuring as described above, it is possible to realize asmall-size variable magnification optical system having a high zoomratio and a high optical performance.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thesecond embodiment of the present application, it is preferable that thefirst lens group is moved toward the object side upon zooming from thewide-angle end state to the telephoto end state. With thisconfiguration, it is possible to suppress a variation in height from theoptical axis of an off-axis beam passing through the first lens groupupon zooming. Consequently, it is possible to suppress a variation inastigmatism upon zooming in addition to decrease of a diameter of thesecond lens group.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thesecond embodiment of the present application, it is preferable that thefifth lens group has positive refractive power. With this configuration,a usable magnification of the fifth lens group becomes smaller than anequi-magnification. As a result, it is possible to relatively lengthen acomposite focal length of the first to fourth lens groups, so thatinfluence of decentering coma aberration and the like due toeccentricity caused among the lenses in the first to fourth lens groupsduring manufacturing can be suppressed to be relatively small andthereby a high optical performance can be realized.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thesecond embodiment of the present application, it is preferable that adistance between the first lens group and the second lens group isincreased upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to the telephotoend state. With this configuration, it is possible to make amagnification of the second lens group larger, so that variations inspherical aberration and astigmatism upon zooming can be suppressedwhile realizing a high zoom ratio effectively.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thesecond embodiment of the present application, it is preferable that adistance between the second lens group and the third lens group isdecreased upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to the telephotoend state. With this configuration, it is possible to make a compositemagnification of the third lens group and the fourth lens group larger,so that variations in spherical aberration and astigmatism upon zoomingcan be suppressed while realizing a high zoom ratio effectively.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thesecond embodiment of the present application, it is preferable that adistance between the fourth lens group and the fifth lens group isincreased upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to the telephotoend state. With this configuration, it is possible to make a compositemagnification of the third lens group and the fourth lens group larger,so that variations in spherical aberration and astigmatism upon zoomingcan be suppressed while realizing a high zoom ratio effectively.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thesecond embodiment of the present application, it is preferable that thefifth lens group is fixed in a position upon zooming from the wide-angleend state to the telephoto end state. With this configuration, it ispossible to vary a height from the optical axis of circumferential lightrays made incident on the fifth lens group from the fourth lens groupupon zooming and thereby more excellently suppress a variation inastigmatism upon zooming.

An optical apparatus according to the second embodiment of the presentapplication comprises the variable magnification optical system havingthe above described configuration. By such configuration, it is possibleto realize a small-size optical apparatus having a high zoom ratio and ahigh optical performance.

In a method for manufacturing a variable magnification optical systemaccording to the second embodiment of the present application, thevariable magnification optical system comprises, in order from an objectside: a first lens group having positive refractive power; a second lensgroup having negative refractive power; a third lens group havingpositive refractive power; a fourth lens group having positiverefractive power; and a fifth lens group. The method comprises the stepsof: arranging the second lens group, the third lens group and the fourthlens group to satisfy the undermentioned conditional expressions (2-1)and (2-2); and arranging, upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to atelephoto end state, a distance between the first lens group and thesecond lens group, a distance between the second lens group and thethird lens group, a distance between the third lens group and the fourthlens group and a distance between the fourth lens group and the fifthlens group to be varied:

0.650<(−f2)/fw<1.240  (2-1)

−0.050<(d3t−d3w)/fw<0.750  (2-2)

where fw denotes the focal length of the variable magnification opticalsystem in the wide-angle end state, f2 denotes the focal length of thesecond lens group, d3w denotes the distance from the lens surface on themost image side of the third lens group to the lens surface on the mostobject side of the fourth lens group in the wide-angle end state, andd3t denotes the distance from the lens surface on the most image side ofthe third lens group to the lens surface on the most object side of thefourth lens group in the telephoto end state. By such configuration, itis possible to manufacture a small-size variable magnification systemhaving a high zoom ratio and a high optical performance.

The variable magnification optical system, the optical apparatus and themethod for manufacturing the variable magnification optical system,according to the third embodiment of the present application areexplained below.

The variable magnification optical system according to the thirdembodiment of the present application comprises, in order from an objectside: a first lens group having positive refractive power; a second lensgroup having negative refractive power; a third lens group havingpositive refractive power; a fourth lens group having positiverefractive power; and a fifth lens group; wherein upon zooming from awide-angle end state to a telephoto end state, a distance between thefirst lens group and the second lens group, a distance between thesecond lens group and the third lens group, a distance between the thirdlens group and the fourth lens group and a distance between the fourthlens group and the fifth lens group are varied. With this configuration,the variable magnification optical system of the present application canrealize zooming from the wide angle end state to the telephoto end stateand suppress respective variations in distortion, astigmatism andspherical aberration, associated with the zooming.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thethird embodiment of the present application, the following conditionalexpressions (3-1) and (3-2) are satisfied:

4.000<(TLt−TLw)/fw<7.000  (3-1)

−0.010<(d3t−d3w)/ft<0.130  (3-2)

where fw denotes a focal length of the variable magnification opticalsystem in the wide-angle end state, ft denotes a focal length of thevariable magnification optical system in the telephoto end state, TLwdenotes a distance from a lens surface on a most object side of thefirst lens group to an image plane in the wide-angle end state, TLtdenotes a distance from the lens surface on the most object side of thefirst lens group to the image plane in the telephoto end state, d3wdenotes a distance from a lens surface on a most image side of the thirdlens group to a lens surface on a most object side of the fourth lensgroup in the wide-angle end state, and d3t denotes a distance from thelens surface on the most image side of the third lens group to the lenssurface on the most object side of the fourth lens group in thetelephoto end state.

The conditional expression (3-1) defines an adequate range of avariation amount, upon zooming, of the distance on the optical axis fromthe lens surface on the most object side of the first lens group to theimage plane, that is, a total optical length of the variablemagnification optical system according to the third embodiment of thepresent application.

With satisfying the conditional expression (3-1), the variablemagnification optical system according to the third embodiment of thepresent application can suppress a variation in astigmatism upon zoomingin addition to decrease of a diameter of the first lens group.

In the variable magnification optical system according to the thirdembodiment of the present application, when the value of (TLt−TLw)/fw isequal to or falls below the lower limit value of the conditionalexpression (3-1), a height from the optical axis of the off-axis beampassing through the first lens group becomes large in the wide-angle endstate. For this reason, it becomes difficult to realize downsizing, andin addition, a height from the optical axis of the off-axis beam passingthrough the first lens group varies largely associated with zooming.Consequently, an excessive variation in astigmatism is caused, so that ahigh optical performance cannot be realized. Meanwhile, in order toattain the advantageous effect of the present application more surely,it is more preferable to set the lower limit value of the conditionalexpression (3-1) to 4.200.

In the variable magnification optical system according to the thirdembodiment of the present application, when the value of (TLt−TLw)/fw isequal to or exceeds the upper limit value of the conditional expression(3-1), a height from the optical axis of the off-axis beam passingthrough the first lens group becomes large in the telephoto end state.For this reason, it becomes difficult to realize downsizing, and inaddition, a height from the optical axis of the off-axis beam passingthrough the first lens group varies largely associated with zooming.Consequently, an excessive variation in astigmatism is caused uponzooming, so that a high optical performance cannot be realized.Meanwhile, in order to attain the advantageous effect of the presentapplication more surely, it is more preferable to set the upper limitvalue of the conditional expression (3-1) to 5.900.

The conditional expression (3-2) defines an adequate range of avariation amount, upon zooming, of the distance on the optical axis fromthe lens surface on the most image side of the third lens group to thelens surface on the most object side of the fourth lens group, that is,a distance between the third lens group and the fourth lens group. Withsatisfying the conditional expression (3-2), the variable magnificationoptical system according to the third embodiment of the presentapplication can suppress variations in coma aberration and astigmatismupon zooming.

In the variable magnification optical system according to the thirdembodiment of the present application, when the value of (d3t−d3w)/ft isequal to or falls below the lower limit value of the conditionalexpression (3-2), it becomes difficult to suppress a variation inastigmatism caused in the third lens group upon zooming, so that a highoptical performance cannot be realized. Meanwhile, in order to attainthe advantageous effect of the present application more surely, it ismore preferable to set the lower limit value of the conditionalexpression (3-2) to 0.000.

On the other hand, in the variable magnification optical systemaccording to the third embodiment of the present application, when thevalue of (d3t−d3w)/ft is equal to or exceeds the upper limit value ofthe conditional expression (3-2), it becomes difficult to suppress avariation in coma aberration caused in the fourth lens group uponzooming, so that a high optical performance cannot be realized.Meanwhile, in order to attain the advantageous effect of the presentapplication more surely, it is more preferable to set the upper limitvalue of the conditional expression (3-2) to 0.065. Further, in order toattain the advantageous effect of the present application more surely,it is more preferable to set the upper limit value of the conditionalexpression (3-2) to 0.035.

With configuring as described above, it is possible to realize asmall-size variable magnification optical system having a high zoomratio and a high optical performance.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thethird embodiment of the present application, it is preferable that thefollowing conditional expression (3-3) is satisfied:

0.300<f1/ft<0.555  (3-3)

where ft denotes a focal length of the variable magnification opticalsystem in the telephoto end state and f1 denotes a focal length of thefirst lens group.

The conditional expression (3-3) defines an adequate range of the focallength of the first lens group. With satisfying the conditionalexpression (3-3), the variable magnification optical system according tothe third embodiment of the present application can suppress variationsin spherical aberration and astigmatism upon zooming.

In the variable magnification optical system according to the thirdembodiment of the present application, when the value of f1/ft is equalto or falls below the lower limit value of the conditional expression(3-3), it becomes difficult to suppress variations in sphericalaberration and astigmatism caused in the first lens group upon zooming,so that a high optical performance cannot be realized. Meanwhile, inorder to attain the advantageous effect of the present application moresurely, it is more preferable to set the lower limit value of theconditional expression (3-3) to 0.421.

On the other hand, in the variable magnification optical systemaccording to the third embodiment of the present application, when thevalue of f1/ft is equal to or exceeds the upper limit value of theconditional expression (3-3), it becomes necessary to increase an amountof variation in distance between the first lens group and the secondlens group upon zooming so as to obtain a predetermined zoom ratio. Forthis reason, it becomes difficult to realize downsizing, and inaddition, a ratio of a diameter of an on-axis beam made incident on thefirst lens group to that of the on-axis beam made incident on the secondlens group varies largely associated with zooming. Consequently, anexcessive variation in spherical aberration is caused, so that a highoptical performance cannot be realized. Meanwhile, in order to attainthe advantageous effect of the present application more surely, it ismore preferable to set the upper limit value of the conditionalexpression (3-3) to 0.530.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thethird embodiment of the present application, it is preferable that thefollowing conditional expression (3-4) is satisfied:

0.410<f3/f4<1.000  (3-4)

where f3 denotes a focal length of the third lens group, and f4 denotesa focal length of the fourth lens group.

The conditional expression (3-4) defines an adequate range of a ratio ofthe focal length of the third lens group to that of the fourth lensgroup. With satisfying the conditional expression (3-4), the variablemagnification optical system according to the third embodiment of thepresent application can suppress variations in spherical aberration andastigmatism upon zooming.

In the variable magnification optical system according to the thirdembodiment of the present application, when the value of f3/f4 is equalto or falls below the lower limit value of the conditional expression(3-4), it becomes difficult to suppress variations in sphericalaberration and astigmatism caused in the third lens group upon zooming,so that a high optical performance cannot be realized. Meanwhile, inorder to attain the advantageous effect of the present application moresurely, it is more preferable to set the lower limit value of theconditional expression (3-4) to 0.550.

On the other hand, in the variable magnification optical systemaccording to the third embodiment of the present application, when thevalue of f3/f4 is equal to or exceeds the upper limit value of theconditional expression (3-4), it becomes difficult to suppressvariations in spherical aberration and astigmatism caused in the fourthlens group upon zooming, so that a high optical performance cannot berealized. Meanwhile, in order to attain the advantageous effect of thepresent application more surely, it is more preferable to set the upperlimit value of the conditional expression (3-4) to 0.880.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thethird embodiment of the present application, it is preferable that thefifth lens group has positive refractive power. With this configuration,a usable magnification of the fifth lens group becomes smaller than anequi-magnification. As a result, it is possible to relatively lengthen acomposite focal length of the first to fourth lens groups, so thatinfluence of decentering coma aberration and the like due toeccentricity caused among the lenses in the first to fourth lens groupsduring manufacturing can be suppressed to be relatively small andthereby a high optical performance can be realized.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thethird embodiment of the present application, it is preferable that adistance between the first lens group and the second lens group isincreased upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to the telephotoend state. With this configuration, it is possible to make amagnification of the second lens group larger, so that variations inspherical aberration and astigmatism upon zooming can be suppressedwhile realizing a high zoom ratio effectively.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thethird embodiment of the present application, it is preferable that adistance between the second lens group and the third lens group isdecreased upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to the telephotoend state. With this configuration, it is possible to make a compositemagnification of the third lens group and the fourth lens group larger,so that variations in spherical aberration and astigmatism upon zoomingcan be suppressed while realizing a high zoom ratio effectively.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thethird embodiment of the present application, it is preferable that adistance between the fourth lens group and the fifth lens group isincreased upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to the telephotoend state. With this configuration, it is possible to make a compositemagnification of the third lens group and the fourth lens group larger,so that variations in spherical aberration and astigmatism upon zoomingcan be suppressed while realizing a high zoom ratio effectively.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thethird embodiment of the present application, it is preferable that thefifth lens group is fixed in a position upon zooming from the wide-angleend state to the telephoto end state. With this configuration, it ispossible to vary a height from the optical axis of circumferential lightrays made incident on the fifth lens group from the fourth lens groupupon zooming and thereby more excellently suppress a variation inastigmatism upon zooming.

An optical apparatus according to the third embodiment of the presentapplication comprises the variable magnification optical system havingthe above described configuration. By such configuration, it is possibleto realize a small-size optical apparatus having a high zoom ratio and ahigh optical performance.

In a method for manufacturing a variable magnification optical systemaccording to the third embodiment of the present application, thevariable magnification optical system comprises, in order from an objectside: a first lens group having positive refractive power; a second lensgroup having negative refractive power; a third lens group havingpositive refractive power; a fourth lens group having positiverefractive power; and a fifth lens group. The method comprises the stepsof: arranging the first lens group, the second lens group, the thirdlens group, the fourth lens group and the fifth lens group to satisfythe undermentioned conditional expressions (3-1) and (3-2); andarranging, upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto endstate, a distance between the first lens group and the second lensgroup, a distance between the second lens group and the third lensgroup, a distance between the third lens group and the fourth lens groupand a distance between the fourth lens group and the fifth lens group tobe varied:

4.000<(TLt−TLw)/fw<7.000  (3-1)

−0.010<(d3t−d3w)/ft<0.130  (3-2)

where fw denotes the focal length of the variable magnification opticalsystem in the wide-angle end state, ft denotes the focal length of thevariable magnification optical system in the telephoto end state, TLwdenotes the distance from the lens surface on the most object side ofthe first lens group to the image plane in the wide-angle end state, TLtdenotes a distance from the lens surface on the most object side of thefirst lens group to the image plane in the telephoto end state, d3wdenotes the distance from the lens surface on the most image side of thethird lens group to the lens surface on the most object side of thefourth lens group in the wide-angle end state, and d3t denotes thedistance from the lens surface on the most image side of the third lensgroup to the lens surface on the most object side of the fourth lensgroup in the telephoto end state. By such configuration, it is possibleto manufacture a small-size variable magnification having a high zoomratio and a high optical performance.

The variable magnification optical system, the optical apparatus and themethod for manufacturing the variable magnification optical system,according to the fourth embodiment of the present application areexplained below.

The variable magnification optical system according to the fourthembodiment of the present application comprises, in order from an objectside: a first lens group having positive refractive power; a second lensgroup having negative refractive power; an aperture stop; a third lensgroup having positive refractive power; a fourth lens group havingpositive refractive power; and a fifth lens group; wherein upon zoomingfrom a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state, a distance betweenthe first lens group and the second lens group, a distance between thesecond lens group and the third lens group, a distance between the thirdlens group and the fourth lens group and a distance between the fourthlens group and the fifth lens group are varied. With this configuration,the variable magnification optical system of the present application canrealize zooming from the wide angle end state to the telephoto end stateand suppress respective variations in distortion, astigmatism andspherical aberration, associated with the zooming.

Further, upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to the telephoto endstate, a distance between the aperture stop and the fourth lens group isconfigured to be fixed. With this configuration, it is possible tosuppress a variation in height from the optical axis of an off-axis beampassing through the fourth lens group can be suppressed. Consequently,it is also possible to suppress variations in astigmatism and sphericalaberration upon zooming.

With configuring as described above, it is possible to realize asmall-size variable magnification optical system having a high zoomratio and a high optical performance.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thefourth embodiment of the present application, it is preferable that thefollowing conditional expression (4-1) is satisfied:

0.410<f3/f4<1.000  (4-1)

where f3 denotes a focal length of the third lens group, and f4 denotesa focal length of the fourth lens group.

The conditional expression (4-1) defines an adequate range of a ratio ofthe focal length of the third lens group to that of the fourth lensgroup. With satisfying the conditional expression (4-1), the variablemagnification optical system according to the fourth embodiment of thepresent application can suppress variations in spherical aberration andastigmatism upon zooming.

In the variable magnification optical system according to the fourthembodiment of the present application, when the value of f3/f4 is equalto or falls below the lower limit value of the conditional expression(4-1), it becomes difficult to suppress variations in sphericalaberration and astigmatism caused in the third lens group upon zooming,so that a high optical performance cannot be realized. Meanwhile, inorder to attain the advantageous effect of the present application moresurely, it is more preferable to set the lower limit value of theconditional expression (4-1) to 0.550.

On the other hand, in the variable magnification optical systemaccording to the fourth embodiment of the present application, when thevalue of f3/f4 is equal to or exceeds the upper limit value of theconditional expression (4-1), it becomes difficult to suppressvariations in spherical aberration and astigmatism caused in the fourthlens group upon zooming, so that a high optical performance cannot berealized. Meanwhile, in order to attain the advantageous effect of thepresent application more surely, it is more preferable to set the higherlimit value of the conditional expression (4-1) to 0.880.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thefourth embodiment of the present application, it is preferable that thefollowing conditional expression (4-2) is satisfied:

−0.010<(d3t−d3w)/ft<0.130  (4-2)

where ft denotes a whole system focal length of the variablemagnification optical system in the telephoto end state, d3w denotes adistance on the optical axis from a lens surface on a most image side ofthe third lens group to a lens surface on a most object side of thefourth lens group in the wide-angle end state, and d3t denotes adistance on the optical axis from the lens surface on the most imageside of the third lens group to the lens surface on the most object sideof the fourth lens group in the telephoto end state.

The conditional expression (4-2) defines an adequate range of thedistance on the optical axis from a lens surface on the most image sideof the third lens group to the lens surface on the most object side ofthe fourth lens group upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to thetelephoto end state. With satisfying the conditional expression (4-2),the variable magnification optical system according to the fourthembodiment of the present application can suppress variations in comaaberration and astigmatism upon zooming.

In the variable magnification optical system according to the fourthembodiment of the present application, when the value of (d3t−d3w)/ft isequal to or falls below the lower limit value of the conditionalexpression (4-2), it becomes difficult to suppress a variation inastigmatism caused in the third lens group upon zooming, so that a highoptical performance cannot be realized. Meanwhile, in order to attainthe advantageous effect of the present application more surely, it ismore preferable to set the lower limit value of the conditionalexpression (4-2) to 0.000.

On the other hand, in the variable magnification optical systemaccording to the second embodiment of the present application, when thevalue of (d3t−d3w)/ft is equal to or exceeds the higher limit value ofthe conditional expression (4-2), it becomes difficult to suppress avariation in coma aberration caused in the fourth lens group uponzooming, so that a high optical performance cannot be realized.Meanwhile, in order to attain the advantageous effect of the presentapplication more surely, it is more preferable to set the higher limitvalue of the conditional expression (4-2) to 0.065. Further, in order toattain the advantageous effect of the present application still moresurely, it is still more preferable to set the higher limit value of theconditional expression (4-2) to 0.035.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thefourth embodiment of the present application, it is preferable that thefollowing conditional expression (4-3) is satisfied:

4.000<(TLt−TLw)/fw<7.000  (4-3)

where fw denotes a whole system focal length of the variablemagnification optical system in the wide-angle end state, TLw denotes adistance on the optical axis from a lens surface on a most object sideof the first lens group to an image plane in the wide-angle end state,and TLt denotes a distance on the optical axis from the lens surface onthe most object side of the first lens group to the image plane in thetelephoto end state.

The conditional expression (4-3) defines an adequate range of a distanceon the optical axis from the lens surface on the most object side of thefirst lens group to the image plane, that is, an adequate range of atotal optical length, upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to thetelephoto end state. With satisfying the conditional expression (4-3),the variable magnification optical system according to the fourthembodiment of the present application can suppress a variation inastigmatism upon zooming in addition to decrease of a diameter of thefirst lens group.

In the variable magnification optical system according to the fourthembodiment of the present application, when the value of (TLt−TLw)/fw isequal to or falls below the lower limit value of the conditionalexpression (4-3), a height from the optical axis of an off-axis beampassing through the first lens group becomes large in the wide-angle endstate. For this reason, it becomes difficult to realize downsizing, andin addition, a height from the optical axis of the off-axis beam passingthrough the first lens group varies largely associated with zooming.Consequently, an excessive variation in astigmatism is caused, so that ahigh optical performance cannot be realized. Meanwhile, in order toattain the advantageous effect of the present application more surely,it is more preferable to set the lower limit value of the conditionalexpression (4-3) to 4.200.

In the variable magnification optical system according to the fourthembodiment of the present application, when the value of (TLt−TLw)/fw isequal to or exceeds the higher limit value of the conditional expression(4-3), a height from the optical axis of the off-axis beam passingthrough the first lens group becomes large in the telephoto end state.For this reason, it becomes difficult to realize downsizing, and inaddition, the height from the optical axis of the off-axis beam passingthrough the first lens group varies largely associated with zooming.Consequently, an excessive variation in astigmatism is caused uponzooming, so that a high optical performance cannot be realized.Meanwhile, in order to attain the advantageous effect of the presentapplication more surely, it is more preferable to set the higher limitvalue of the conditional expression (4-3) to 5.900.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thefourth embodiment of the present application, it is preferable that thefollowing conditional expression (4-4) is satisfied:

0.300<f1/ft<0.555  (4-4)

where f1 denotes a focal length of the first lens group, and ft denotesa whole system focal length of the variable magnification optical systemin the telephoto end state.

The conditional expression (4-4) defines an adequate range of the focallength of the first lens group. With satisfying the conditionalexpression (4-4), the variable magnification optical system of thepresent application can suppress variations in spherical aberration andastigmatism upon zooming.

In the variable magnification optical system according to the fourthembodiment of the present application, when the value of f1/ft is equalto or falls below the lower limit value of the conditional expression(4-4), it becomes difficult to suppress variations in sphericalaberration and astigmatism caused in the first lens group upon zooming,so that a high optical performance cannot be realized. Meanwhile, inorder to attain the advantageous effect of the present application moresurely, it is more preferable to set the lower limit value of theconditional expression (4-4) to 0.421.

On the other hand, in the variable magnification optical systemaccording to the fourth embodiment of the present application, when thevalue of f1/ft is equal to or exceeds the upper limit value of theconditional expression (4-4), it becomes necessary to increase an amountof variation in distance between the first lens group and the secondlens group upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to the telephotoend state so as to obtain a predetermined zoom ratio. For this reason,it becomes difficult to realize downsizing, and in addition, a ratio ofa diameter of an on-axis beam made incident on the first lens group tothat of the on-axis beam made incident on the second lens group varieslargely associated with zooming. Consequently, an excessive variation inspherical aberration upon zooming is caused, so that a high opticalperformance cannot be realized. Meanwhile, in order to attain theadvantageous effect of the present application more surely, it is morepreferable to set the higher limit value of the conditional expression(4-4) to 0.530.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thefourth embodiment of the present application, it is preferable that thefifth lens group has positive refractive power. With this configuration,a usable magnification of the fifth lens group becomes smaller than anequi-magnification. As a result, it is possible to relatively lengthen acomposite focal length of the first to fourth lens groups, so thatinfluence of decentering coma aberration and the like due toeccentricity caused among the lenses in the first to fourth lens groupsduring manufacturing can be suppressed to be relatively small andthereby a high optical performance can be realized.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thefourth embodiment of the present application, it is preferable that adistance between the first lens group and the second lens group isincreased upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to the telephotoend state. With this configuration, it is possible to make amagnification of the second lens group larger, so that variations inspherical aberration and astigmatism upon zooming can be suppressedwhile realizing a high zoom ratio effectively.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thefourth embodiment of the present application, it is preferable that adistance between the second lens group and the third lens group isdecreased upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to the telephotoend state. With this configuration, it is possible to make a compositemagnification of the third lens group and the fourth lens group larger,so that variations in spherical aberration and astigmatism upon zoomingcan be suppressed while realizing a high zoom ratio effectively.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thefourth embodiment of the present application, it is preferable that thedistance between the fourth lens group and the fifth lens group isincreased upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to the telephotoend state. With this configuration, it is possible to make a compositemagnification of the third lens group and the fourth lens group larger,so that variations in spherical aberration and astigmatism upon zoomingcan be suppressed while realizing a high zoom ratio effectively.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system according to thefourth embodiment of the present application, it is preferable that thefifth lens group is fixed in a position upon zooming from the wide-angleend state to the telephoto end state. With this configuration, it ispossible to vary a height from the optical axis of circumferential lightrays made incident on the fifth lens group from the fourth lens groupupon zooming and thereby more excellently suppress a variation inastigmatism upon zooming.

An optical apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the presentapplication comprises the variable magnification optical system havingthe above described configuration. By such configuration, it is possibleto realize a small-size optical apparatus having a high zoom ratio and ahigh optical performance.

In a method for manufacturing a variable magnification optical systemaccording to the fourth embodiment of the present application, thevariable magnification optical system comprises, in order from an objectside: a first lens group having positive refractive power; a second lensgroup having negative refractive power; an aperture stop; a third lensgroup having positive refractive power; a fourth lens group havingpositive refractive power; and a fifth lens group. The method comprisesthe steps of: arranging, upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to atelephoto end state, a distance between the first lens group and thesecond lens group, a distance between the second lens group and thethird lens group, a distance between the third lens group and the fourthlens group and a distance between the fourth lens group and the fifthlens group to be varied, and a distance between the aperture stop andthe fourth lens group to be fixed.

Hereinafter, variable magnification optical systems relating tonumerical examples according to the first to fourth embodiments of thepresent application will be explained with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

First Example

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D and 1E are sectional views showing a variablemagnification optical system according to the First Example of the firstto fourth embodiments of the present application, in a wide-angle endstate, in a first intermediate focal length state, in a secondintermediate focal length state, in a third intermediate focal lengthstate and in a telephoto end state, respectively.

The variable magnification optical system according to the presentExample is composed of, in order from an object side: a first lens groupG1 having positive refractive power; a second lens group G2 havingnegative refractive power; a third lens group G3 having positiverefractive power; a fourth lens group G4 having positive refractivepower, and a fifth lens group G5 having positive refractive power.

The first lens group G1 consists of, in order from the object side, acemented lens constructed by a negative meniscus lens L11 having aconvex surface facing the object side cemented with a double convexpositive lens L12, and a positive meniscus lens L13 having a convexsurface facing the object side.

The second lens group G2 consists of, in order from the object side, anegative meniscus lens L21 having a convex surface facing the objectside, a double concave negative lens L22, and a cemented lensconstructed by a double convex positive lens L23 cemented with anegative meniscus lens L24 having a concave surface facing the objectside. Meanwhile, the negative meniscus lens L21 is a glass mold typeaspherical lens of which a lens surface on the object side is formedinto an aspherical shape.

The third lens group G3 consists of, in order from the object side, acemented lens constructed by a negative meniscus lens L31 having aconvex surface facing the object side cemented with a double convexpositive lens L32. Meanwhile, an aperture stop S is disposed on theobject side of the third lens group G3.

The fourth lens group G4 consists of, in order from the object side, acemented lens constructed by a double convex positive lens L41 cementedwith a double concave negative lens L42, a cemented lens constructed bya double convex positive lens L43 cemented with a negative meniscus lensL44 having a concave surface facing the object side, a cemented lensconstructed by a double concave negative lens L45 cemented with a doubleconvex positive lens L46, and a cemented lens constructed by a doubleconvex positive lens L47 cemented with a negative meniscus lens L48having a concave surface facing the object side. Meanwhile, the negativemeniscus lens L48 is a glass mold type aspherical lens of which a lenssurface on the image side is formed into an aspherical shape.

The fifth lens group G5 consists of, in order from the object side, acemented lens constructed by a positive meniscus lens L51 having aconcave surface facing the object side cemented with a negative meniscuslens L52 having a concave surface facing the object side. Meanwhile, thenegative meniscus lens L52 is a glass mold type aspherical lens of whicha lens surface on the image side is formed into an aspherical shape.

With the above-mentioned configuration, in the variable magnificationoptical system according to the present Example, upon zooming from thewide-angle end state to the telephoto end state, the first lens group G1to the fourth lens group G4 are moved along the optical axis such that adistance between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2, adistance between the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3, adistance between the third lens group G3 and the fourth lens group G4,and a distance between the fourth lens group G4 and the fifth lens groupG5 are varied, respectively.

To be specific, the first lens group G1, the third lens group G3 and thefourth lens group G4 are moved toward the object side upon zooming. Thesecond lens group G2 is moved toward the object side from the wide-angleend state to the third intermediate focal length state and it is movedtoward the image side from the third intermediate focal length state tothe telephoto end state. The fifth lens group G5 is fixed in a positionin the direction of the optical axis upon zooming. Meanwhile, theaperture stop S is moved integrally with the fourth lens group G4 uponzooming.

Consequently, upon zooming, the distance between the first lens group G1and the second lens group G2 is increased, the distance between thesecond lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 is decreased, and thedistance between the fourth lens group G4 and the fifth lens group G5 isincreased. The distance between the third lens group G3 and the fourthlens group G4 is increased from the wide-angle end state to the firstintermediate focal length state, it is decreased from the firstintermediate focal length state to the second intermediate focal lengthstate, and it is increased from the second intermediate focal lengthstate to the telephoto end state. Meanwhile, upon zooming, a distancebetween the aperture stop S and the third lens group G3 is decreasedfrom the wide-angle end state to the first intermediate focal lengthstate, it is increased from the first intermediate focal length state tothe second intermediate focal length state, and it is decreased from thesecond intermediate focal length state to the telephoto end state.

Table 1 below shows various values of the variable magnification opticalsystem according to the present Example.

In Table 1, f denotes a focal length, and BF denotes a back focal length(a distance on the optical axis between the most image side lens surfaceand an image plane I).

In [Surface Data], m denotes an order of an optical surface counted fromthe object side, r denotes a radius of curvature, d denotes asurface-to-surface distance (an interval from an n-th surface to an(n+1)-th surface, where n is an integer), nd denotes refractive indexfor d-line (wavelength λ=587.6 nm) and νd denotes an Abbe number ford-line (wavelength λ=587.6 nm). Further, OP denotes an object surface, Sdenotes an aperture stop, and I denotes an image plane. Meanwhile, aradius of curvature r=∞ denotes a plane surface. As for an asphericalsurface, “*” is attached to the surface number and a value of a paraxialradius of curvature is indicated in the column of the radius ofcurvature r. Refractive index of air nd=1.000000 is omitted in thedescription.

In [Aspherical Data], with respect to an aspherical surface shown in[Surface Data], an aspherical surface coefficient and a conicalcoefficient are shown in the case where the aspherical surface isexhibited by the following expression:

x=(h ² /r)/[1+[1−κ(h/r)₂]^(1/2) ]+A4h ⁴ +A6h ⁶ +A8h ⁸ +A10h ¹⁰ A12h ¹²

where h denotes a vertical height from the optical axis, x denotes adistance in the direction of the optical axis from a tangent surface ata vertex of the aspherical surface to the aspherical surface at thevertical height from the optical axis (a sag amount), κ denotes aconical coefficient, A4, A6, A8, A10 and A12 denote respectiveaspherical coefficients, and r denotes a radius of curvature of areference sphere (a paraxial radius of curvature). “E-n”, where n is aninteger, denotes “×10^(−n)”, for example, “1.234E-05” denotes“1.234×10⁻⁵”. The 2nd order aspherical surface coefficient A2 is 0, andomitted in the description.

In [Various Data], FNO denotes an F-number, ω denotes a half angle ofview (unit “°”), Y denotes an image height, TL denotes a total length ofthe variable magnification optical system (a distance on the opticalaxis from the first surface to the image plane I upon focusing on theinfinite distance object), do denotes a variable interval between ann-th surface and an (n+1)-th surface and φ denotes a diameter of theaperture stop S. Meanwhile, W denotes the wide-angle end state, M1denotes the first intermediate focal length state, M2 denotes the secondintermediate focal length state, M3 denotes the third intermediate focallength state, and T denotes the telephoto end state.

In [Lens Group Data], a starting surface ST and a focal length f areshown for each lens group.

In [Values for Conditional Expressions], values corresponding torespective conditional expressions in the variable magnification opticalsystem according to the present Example are shown.

It is noted, here, that “mm” is generally used for the unit of lengthsuch as the focal length f, the radius of curvature r and the unit forother lengths shown in Table 1. However, since similar opticalperformance can be obtained by an optical system proportionally enlargedor reduced, the unit is not necessarily to be limited to “mm”.

The above-mentioned reference symbols in Table 1 are also employed inthe same manner in Tables of the after-mentioned Examples.

TABLE 1 First Example [Surface Data] m r d nd νd OP ∞ 1 165.4019 1.63501.902650 35.73 2 41.8893 9.2560 1.497820 82.57 3 −178.4364 0.1000 442.8430 5.1140 1.729160 54.61 5 515.0653 d5  *6 500.0000 1.0000 1.85135040.10 7 9.0059 4.2479 8 −16.6413 1.0000 1.883000 40.66 9 50.8442 0.753810 32.1419 3.0566 1.808090 22.74 11 −18.1056 1.0000 1.883000 40.66 12−29.3627 d12 13 ∞ d13 Aperture Stop S 14 27.1583 1.0000 1.883000 40.6615 14.3033 3.4259 1.593190 67.90 16 −43.0421 d16 17 12.5000 8.24271.670030 47.14 18 −79.2339 1.0000 1.883000 40.66 19 11.4345 2.0000 2018.9834 3.3397 1.518600 69.89 21 −12.4126 1.0000 1.850260 32.35 22−22.7118 1.5000 23 −46.2616 1.0000 1.902650 35.73 24 11.4391 3.50331.581440 40.98 25 −30.7870 0.1000 26 28.7953 5.0986 1.581440 40.98 27−8.8012 1.0000 1.820800 42.71 *28 −35.2149 d28 29 −40.0000 1.64321.497820 82.57 30 −19.4318 1.0000 1.834410 37.28 *31 −22.7996 BF I ∞[Aspherical Data] m 6 κ 11.00000 A4  3.95289E−05 A6 −2.04622E−07 A8−4.81392E−09 A10  9.83575E−11 A12 −5.88880E−13 m 28 κ 1.0000 A4−5.59168E−05 A6 −2.20298E−07 A8  3.87818E−10 A10  1.16318E−11 A120.00000 m 31 κ 1.00000 A4  2.65930E−05 A6  7.69228E−08 A8 −1.34346E−09A10 0.00000 A12 0.00000 [Various Data] zoom ratio 14.14 W T f 9.47~133.87 FNO 4.12~ 5.78 ω 41.95~ 3.27° Y 8.00~ 8.00 TL 112.25~ 165.65 W M1M2 M3 T f 9.47002 17.83631 60.50026 90.50043 133.87072 ω 41.9549723.18274 7.18201 4.82759 3.26779 FNO 4.12 5.24 5.77 5.77 5.78 φ 8.528.52 9.55 10.30 11.04 d5 2.10000 12.15693 36.10717 41.77210 46.27797 d1224.77744 16.39929 5.66327 3.74451 2.20000 d13 5.18928 3.23115 4.539283.63928 1.80000 d16 2.25000 4.20813 2.90000 3.80000 5.63928 d28 1.8686112.02032 28.59900 32.29005 33.66620 BF 14.04947 14.04956 14.0498914.04993 14.05005 [Lens Group Data] ST f G1 1 68.08250 G2 6 −9.98760 G314 38.80284 G4 17 60.78065 G5 29 129.99998 [Values for ConditionalExpressions] (1-1) (−f2)/fw = 1.055 (1-2) f3/f4 = 0.638 (1-3) (d3t −d3w)/fw = 0.358 (2-1) (−f2)/fw = 1.055 (2-2) (d3t − d3w)/fw = 0.358(3-1) (TLt − TLw)/fw = 5.639 (3-2) (d3t − d3w)/ft = 0.025 (3-3) f1/ft =0.509 (3-4) f3/f4 = 0.638 (4-1) f3/f4 = 0.638 (4-2) (d3t − d3w)/ft =0.025 (4-3) (TLt − TLw)/fw = 5.639 (4-4) f1/ft = 0.509

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C are graphs showing various aberrations of thevariable magnification optical system according to the First Example ofthe first to fourth embodiments of the present application upon focusingon an infinite distance object, in the wide-angle end state, in thefirst intermediate focal length state, and in the second intermediatefocal length state, respectively.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are graphs showing various aberrations of the variablemagnification optical system according to the First Example of the firstto fourth embodiments of the present application upon focusing on theinfinite distance object, in the third intermediate focal length stateand in the telephoto end state, respectively.

In respective graphs, FNO denotes an F-number, A denotes an incidentangle of a light ray, that is, a half angle of view (unit “°”). ddenotes an aberration curve at d-line (wavelength λ=587.6 nm), g denotesan aberration curve at g-line (wavelength λ=435.8 nm), and when neitherd nor g is mentioned, a curve indicates an aberration at the d-line. Inthe graph showing astigmatism, a solid line indicates a sagittal imageplane, and a broken line indicates a meridional image plane.Incidentally, the above-mentioned symbols in the present Example arealso employed in the same manner in the graphs of the after-mentionedExamples.

As is apparent from the respective graphs, the variable magnificationoptical system according to the present Example shows good correctionsto various aberrations from the wide-angle end state through thetelephoto end state, and also shows a high optical performance.

Second Example

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E are sectional views showing a variablemagnification optical system according to the Second Example of thefirst to fourth embodiments of the present application, in a wide-angleend state, in a first intermediate focal length state, in a secondintermediate focal length state, in a third intermediate focal lengthstate and in a telephoto end state, respectively.

The variable magnification optical system according to the presentExample is composed of, in order from an object side: a first lens groupG1 having positive refractive power; a second lens group G2 havingnegative refractive power; a third lens group G3 having positiverefractive power; a fourth lens group G4 having positive refractivepower, and a fifth lens group G5 having positive refractive power.

The first lens group G1 consists of, in order from the object side, acemented lens constructed by a negative meniscus lens L11 having aconvex surface facing the object side cemented with a double convexpositive lens L12, and a positive meniscus lens L13 having a convexsurface facing the object side.

The second lens group G2 consists of, in order from the object side, anegative meniscus lens L21 having a convex surface facing the objectside, a double concave negative lens L22, and a cemented lensconstructed by a double convex positive lens L23 cemented with a doubleconcave negative lens L24. Meanwhile, the negative meniscus lens L21 isa glass mold type aspherical lens of which a lens surface on the objectside is formed into an aspherical shape.

The third lens group G3 consists of, in order from the object side, acemented lens constructed by a negative meniscus lens L31 having aconvex surface facing the object side cemented with a double convexpositive lens L32. Meanwhile, an aperture stop S is disposed on theobject side of the third lens group G3.

The fourth lens group G4 consists of, in order from the object side, acemented lens constructed by a positive meniscus lens L41 having aconvex surface facing the object side cemented with a negative meniscuslens L42 having a convex surface facing the object side, a cemented lensconstructed by a double convex positive lens L43 cemented with anegative meniscus lens L44 having a concave surface facing the objectside, a cemented lens constructed by a double concave negative lens L45cemented with a double convex positive lens L46, and a cemented lensconstructed by a double convex positive lens L47 cemented with anegative meniscus lens L48 having a concave surface facing the objectside. Meanwhile, the negative meniscus lens L48 is a glass mold typeaspherical lens of which a lens surface on the image side is formed intoan aspherical shape.

The fifth lens group G5 consists of, in order from the object side, acemented lens constructed by a positive meniscus lens L51 having aconcave surface facing the object side cemented with a negative meniscuslens L52 having a concave surface facing the object side. Meanwhile, thenegative meniscus lens L52 is a glass mold type aspherical lens of whicha lens surface on the image side is formed into an aspherical shape.

With the above-mentioned configuration, in the variable magnificationoptical system according to the present Example, upon zooming from thewide-angle end state to the telephoto end state, the first lens group G1to the fourth lens group G4 are moved along the optical axis such that adistance between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2, adistance between the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3, adistance between the third lens group G3 and the fourth lens group G4,and a distance between the fourth lens group G4 and the fifth lens groupG5 are varied, respectively.

To be specific, the first lens group G1, the third lens group G3 and thefourth lens group G4 are moved toward the object side upon zooming. Thesecond lens group G2 is moved toward the object side from the wide-angleend state to the third intermediate focal length state and it is movedtoward the image side from the third intermediate focal length state tothe telephoto end state. The fifth lens group G5 is fixed in a positionin the direction of the optical axis upon zooming. Meanwhile, theaperture stop S is moved toward the object side integrally with thefourth lens group G4 upon zooming.

Consequently, upon zooming, the distance between the first lens group G1and the second lens group G2 is increased, the distance between thesecond lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 is decreased, and thedistance between the fourth lens group G4 and the fifth lens group G5 isincreased. The distance between the third lens group G3 and the fourthlens group G4 is increased from the wide-angle end state to the firstintermediate focal length state, it is decreased from the firstintermediate focal length state to the second intermediate focal lengthstate, and it is increased from the second intermediate focal lengthstate to the telephoto end state. Meanwhile, upon zooming, a distancebetween the aperture stop S and the third lens group G3 is decreasedfrom the wide-angle end state to the first intermediate focal lengthstate, it is increased from the first intermediate focal length state tothe second intermediate focal length state, and it is decreased from thesecond intermediate focal length state to the telephoto end state.

Table 2 below shows various values of the variable magnification opticalsystem according to the present Example.

TABLE 2 Second Example [Surface Data] m r d nd νd OP ∞ 1 149.1393 1.63501.902650 35.73 2 39.3210 9.1912 1.497820 82.57 3 −200.0000 0.1000 441.9637 5.4484 1.729160 54.61 5 1039.4250 d5  *6 500.0000 1.00001.851350 40.10 7 9.7424 3.8435 8 −27.3991 1.0000 1.883000 40.66 989.0051 0.2895 10 21.6984 3.7554 1.808090 22.74 11 −15.0205 1.00001.883000 40.66 12 103.6128 d12 13 ∞ d13 Aperture Stop S 14 26.38761.0000 1.883000 40.66 15 13.2001 3.5030 1.593190 67.90 16 −39.4805 d1617 12.5000 8.2088 1.743200 49.26 18 25.6321 1.0000 1.834000 37.18 199.6066 2.0000 20 17.4828 3.0696 1.516800 63.88 21 −13.7429 1.00001.850260 32.35 22 −25.6259 1.5000 23 −19.7745 1.0000 1.850260 32.35 2412.4270 3.9453 1.620040 36.40 25 −17.2177 0.3559 26 44.5160 5.32721.581440 40.98 27 −8.1562 1.0000 1.820800 42.71 *28 −28.1926 d28 29−40.0000 1.7646 1.497820 82.57 30 −18.8409 1.0000 1.834410 37.28 *31−25.0038 BF I ∞ [Aspherical Data] m 6 κ 10.29120 A4  1.05982E−05 A6 1.47868E−07 A8 −6.64708E−09 A10  8.77431E−11 A12 −4.23990E−13 m 28 κ1.0000 A4 −7.26393E−05 A6 −3.38257E−07 A8  1.26743E−09 A10 −2.83030E−11A12 0.00000 m 31 κ 1.00000 A4  2.68564E−05 A6  7.91224E−08 A8−8.06538E−10 A10 0.00000 A12 0.00000 [Various Data] zoom ratio 14.13 W Tf 10.30~ 145.50 FNO 4.08~ 5.71 ω 39.62~ 3.01° Y 8.00~ 8.00 TL 112.60~162.60 W M1 M2 M3 T f 10.30001 18.00395 60.55030 89.50052 145.50102 ω39.61866 23.08393 7.20247 4.88583 3.00545 FNO 4.08 4.79 5.49 5.75 5.72 φ9.01 9.02 9.02 9.26 10.08 d5 2.10000 11.86757 33.84673 38.94667 43.98780d12 24.38938 17.21960 5.86923 4.42463 2.20000 d13 2.46923 1.800004.59702 3.69702 1.80000 d16 5.02779 5.69702 2.90000 3.80000 5.69702 d281.62642 10.35671 26.30176 30.05048 31.92800 BF 14.04946 14.0495314.04979 14.04990 14.05006 [Lens Group Data] ST f G1 1 64.91265 G2 6−9.00339 G3 14 38.07719 G4 17 46.69911 G5 29 260.10501 [Values forConditional Expressions] (1-1) (−f2)/fw = 0.874 (1-2) f3/f4 = 0.815(1-3) (d3t − d3w)/fw = 0.065 (2-1) (−f2)/fw = 0.874 (2-2) (d3t − d3w)/fw= 0.065 (3-1) (TLt − TLw)/fw = 4.854 (3-2) (d3t − d3w)/ft = 0.005 (3-3)f1/ft = 0.446 (3-4) f3/f4 = 0.815 (4-1) f3/f4 = 0.815 (4-2) (d3t −d3w)/ft = 0.005 (4-3) (TLt − TLw)/fw = 4.854 (4-4) f1/ft = 0.446

FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C are graphs showing various aberrations of thevariable magnification optical system according to the Second Example ofthe first to fourth embodiments of the present application upon focusingon an infinite distance object, in the wide-angle end state, in thefirst intermediate focal length state, and in the second intermediatefocal length state, respectively.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are graphs showing various aberrations of the variablemagnification optical system according to the Second Example of thefirst to fourth embodiments of the present application upon focusing onthe infinite distance object, in the third intermediate focal lengthstate and in the telephoto end state, respectively.

As is apparent from the respective graphs, the variable magnificationoptical system according to the present Example shows excellentcorrections to various aberrations from the wide-angle end state throughthe telephoto end state, and also shows a high optical performance.

Third Example

FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D and 7E are sectional views showing a variablemagnification optical system according to the Third Example of the firstto fourth embodiments of the present application, in a wide-angle endstate, in a first intermediate focal length state, in a secondintermediate focal length state, in a third intermediate focal lengthstate and in a telephoto end state, respectively.

The variable magnification optical system according to the presentExample is composed of, in order from an object side: a first lens groupG1 having positive refractive power; a second lens group G2 havingnegative refractive power; a third lens group G3 having positiverefractive power; a fourth lens group G4 having positive refractivepower, and a fifth lens group having positive refractive power.

The first lens group G1 consists of, in order from the object side, acemented lens constructed by a negative meniscus lens L11 having aconvex surface facing the object side cemented with a double convexpositive lens L12, and a positive meniscus lens L13 having a convexsurface facing the object side.

The second lens group G2 consists of, in order from the object side, anegative meniscus lens L21 having a convex surface facing the objectside, a double concave negative lens L22, and a cemented lensconstructed by a double convex positive lens L23 cemented with anegative meniscus lens L24 having a concave surface facing the objectside. Meanwhile, the negative meniscus lens L21 is a glass mold typeaspherical lens of which a lens surface on the object side is formedinto an aspherical shape.

The third lens group G3 consists of, in order from the object side, acemented lens constructed by a negative meniscus lens L31 having aconvex surface facing the object side cemented with a double convexpositive lens L32. Meanwhile, an aperture stop S is disposed on theobject side of the third lens group G3.

The fourth lens group G4 consists of, in order from the object side, acemented lens constructed by a double convex positive lens L41 cementedwith a double concave negative lens L42, a cemented lens constructed bya double convex positive lens L43 cemented with a negative meniscus lensL44 having a concave surface facing the object side, a cemented lensconstructed by a double concave negative lens L45 cemented with a doubleconvex positive lens L46, and a cemented lens constructed by a doubleconvex positive lens L47 cemented with a negative meniscus lens L48having a concave surface facing the object side. Meanwhile, the negativemeniscus lens L48 is a glass mold type aspherical lens of which a lenssurface on the image side is formed into an aspherical shape.

The fifth lens group G5 consists of, in order from the object side, acemented lens constructed by a positive meniscus lens L51 having aconcave surface facing the object side cemented with a negative meniscuslens L52 having a concave surface facing the object side. Meanwhile, thenegative meniscus lens L52 is a glass mold type aspherical lens of whicha lens surface on the image side is formed into an aspherical shape.

With the above-mentioned configuration, in the variable magnificationoptical system according to the present Example, upon zooming from thewide-angle end state to the telephoto end state, the first lens group G1to the fourth lens group G4 are moved along the optical axis toward theobject side such that a distance between the first lens group G1 and thesecond lens group G2, a distance between the second lens group G2 andthe third lens group G3, a distance between the third lens group G3 andthe fourth lens group G4, and a distance between the fourth lens groupG4 and the fifth lens group G5 are varied, respectively. The fifth lensgroup G5 is fixed in a position in the direction of the optical axisupon zooming. Meanwhile, the aperture stop S is moved toward the objectside integrally with the fourth lens group G4 upon zooming.

To be specific, upon zooming, the distance between the first lens groupG1 and the second lens group G2 is increased, the distance between thesecond lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 is decreased, and thedistance between the fourth lens group G4 and the fifth lens group G5 isincreased. The distance between the third lens group G3 and the fourthlens group G4 is increased from the wide-angle end state to the firstintermediate focal length state, it is decreased from the firstintermediate focal length state to the second intermediate focal lengthstate, and it is increased from the second intermediate focal lengthstate to the telephoto end state. Meanwhile, upon zooming, a distancebetween the aperture stop S and the third lens group G3 is decreasedfrom the wide-angle end state to the first intermediate focal lengthstate, it is increased from the first intermediate focal length state tothe second intermediate focal length state, and it is decreased from thesecond intermediate focal length state to the telephoto end state.

Table 3 below shows various values of the variable magnification opticalsystem according to the present Example.

TABLE 3 Third Example [Surface Data] m r d nd νd OP ∞ 1 142.4935 1.63501.950000 29.37 2 42.2502 8.5971 1.497820 82.57 3 −244.5599 0.1000 443.5280 4.7901 1.834810 42.73 5 290.5464 d5  *6 500.0000 1.0000 1.85135040.10 7 9.0471 4.3168 8 −20.3544 1.0000 1.903660 31.27 9 42.4575 0.731310 28.0881 4.0634 1.808090 22.74 11 −12.5975 1.0000 1.883000 40.66 12−38.6924 d12 13 ∞ d13 Aperture Stop S 14 31.6163 1.0000 1.883000 40.6615 15.7262 3.3464 1.593190 67.90 16 −39.3012 d16 17 13.5000 9.67821.717000 47.98 18 −38.7323 1.0000 1.883000 40.66 19 11.8099 2.0000 2019.9976 3.2554 1.516800 63.88 21 −12.0110 1.0000 1.850260 32.35 22−20.9691 1.5000 23 −39.8308 1.0000 1.950000 29.37 24 10.4776 3.57011.672700 32.19 25 −30.1182 0.5349 26 36.6513 5.1773 1.581440 40.98 27−8.5118 1.0000 1.820800 42.71 *28 −28.2741 d28 29 −40.0000 1.91411.497820 82.57 30 −18.1052 1.0000 1.834410 37.28 *31 −22.6207 BF I ∞[Aspherical Data] m 6 κ −3.81950 A4  4.21558E−05 A6 −2.17082E−07 A8−2.45102E−09 A10  5.51411E−11 A12 −2.85950E−13 m 28 κ 1.0000 A4−6.70317E−05 A6 −2.82990E−07 A8  5.39592E−10 A10 −1.47007E−11 A120.00000 m 31 κ 1.00000 A4  2.67692E−05 A6  2.52197E−08 A8 −6.04092E−10A10 0.00000 A12 0.00000 [Various Data] zoom ratio 14.13 W T f 9.27~130.95 FNO 4.11~ 5.71 ω 42.66~ 3.37° Y 8.00~ 8.00 TL 113.35~ 167.85 W M1M2 M3 T f 9.27001 17.98649 60.50024 89.50040 130.95047 ω 42.6645922.98882 7.25983 4.93130 3.37079 FNO 4.11 5.12 5.73 5.75 5.71 φ 8.598.59 9.57 10.18 11.03 d5 2.10000 14.22823 35.96983 41.57489 45.70436 d1224.57776 16.27840 5.38702 3.71762 2.20000 d13 5.01075 3.17327 4.360753.46075 1.80000 d16 2.25000 4.08748 2.90000 3.80000 5.46075 d28 1.1558311.01481 29.01229 32.10086 34.42483 BF 14.04945 14.04946 14.0497914.04987 14.04999 [Lens Group Data] ST f G1 1 67.49208 G2 6 −9.52181 G314 41.09622 G4 17 53.39457 G5 29 147.67270 [Values for ConditionalExpressions] (1-1) (−f2)/fw = 1.027 (1-2) f3/f4 = 0.770 (1-3) (d3t −d3w)/fw = 0.346 (2-1) (−f2)/fw = 1.027 (2-2) (d3t − d3w)/fw = 0.346(3-1) (TLt − TLw)/fw = 5.879 (3-2) (d3t − d3w)/ft = 0.025 (3-3) f1/ft =0.515 (3-4) f3/f4 = 0.770 (4-1) f3/f4 = 0.770 (4-2) (d3t − d3w)/ft =0.025 (4-3) (TLt − TLw)/fw = 5.879 (4-4) f1/ft = 0.515

FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C are graphs showing various aberrations of thevariable magnification optical system according to the Third Example ofthe first to fourth embodiments of the present application upon focusingon an infinite distance object, in the wide-angle end state, in thefirst intermediate focal length state, and in the second intermediatefocal length state, respectively.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are graphs showing various aberrations of the variablemagnification optical system according to the Third Example of the firstto fourth embodiments of the present application upon focusing on theinfinite distance object, in the third intermediate focal length stateand in the telephoto end state, respectively.

As is apparent from the respective graphs, the variable magnificationoptical system according to the present Example shows excellentcorrections to various aberrations from the wide-angle end state throughthe telephoto end state, and also shows a high optical performance.

Fourth Example

FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D and 10E are sectional views showing a variablemagnification optical system according to the Fourth Example of thefirst to fourth embodiments of the present application, in a wide-angleend state, in a first intermediate focal length state, in a secondintermediate focal length state, in a third intermediate focal lengthstate and in a telephoto end state, respectively.

The variable magnification optical system according to the presentExample is composed of, in order from an object side: a first lens groupG1 having positive refractive power; a second lens group G2 havingnegative refractive power; a third lens group G3 having positiverefractive power; a fourth lens group G4 having positive refractivepower, and a fifth lens group G5 having positive refractive power.

The first lens group G1 consists of, in order from the object side, acemented lens constructed by a negative meniscus lens L11 having aconvex surface facing the object side cemented with a double convexpositive lens L12, and a positive meniscus lens L13 having a convexsurface facing the object side.

The second lens group G2 consists of, in order from the object side, anegative meniscus lens L21 having a convex surface facing the objectside, a double concave negative lens L22, and a cemented lensconstructed by a double convex positive lens L23 cemented with a doubleconcave negative lens L24. Meanwhile, the negative meniscus lens L21 isa glass mold type aspherical lens of which a lens surface on the objectside is formed into an aspherical shape.

The third lens group G3 consists of, in order from the object side, acemented lens constructed by a negative meniscus lens L31 having aconvex surface facing the object side cemented with a double convexpositive lens L32. Meanwhile, an aperture stop S is disposed on theobject side of the third lens group G3.

The fourth lens group G4 consists of, in order from the object side, acemented lens constructed by a positive meniscus lens L41 having aconvex surface facing the object side cemented with a negative meniscuslens L42 having a convex surface facing the object side, a cemented lensconstructed by a double convex positive lens L43 cemented with anegative meniscus lens L44 having a concave surface facing the objectside, a double concave negative lens L45, and a cemented lensconstructed by a double convex positive lens L46 cemented with anegative meniscus lens L47 having a concave surface facing the objectside. Meanwhile, the negative lens L45 is a glass mold type asphericallens of which a lens surface on the object side is formed into anaspherical shape, and the negative meniscus lens L47 is a glass moldtype aspherical lens of which a lens surface on the image side is formedinto an aspherical shape.

The fifth lens group G5 consists of, in order from the object side, acemented lens constructed by a positive meniscus lens L51 having aconcave surface facing the object side cemented with a negative meniscuslens L52 having a concave surface facing the object side. Meanwhile, thenegative meniscus lens L52 is a glass mold type aspherical lens of whicha lens surface on the image side is formed into an aspherical shape.

With the above-mentioned configuration, in the variable magnificationoptical system according to the present Example, upon zooming from thewide-angle end state to the telephoto end state, the first lens group G1to the fourth lens group G4 are moved along the optical axis such that adistance between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2, adistance between the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3, adistance between the third lens group G3 and the fourth lens group G4,and a distance between the fourth lens group G4 and the fifth lens groupG5 are varied, respectively.

To be specific, the first lens group G1, the third lens group G3 and thefourth lens group G4 are moved toward the object side upon zooming. Thesecond lens group G2 is moved toward the object side from the wide-angleend state to the second intermediate focal length state, it is movedtoward the image side from the second intermediate focal length state tothe third intermediate focal length state, and it is moved toward theobject side from the third intermediate focal length state to thetelephoto end state. The fifth lens group G5 is fixed in a position inthe direction of the optical axis upon zooming. Meanwhile, the aperturestop S is moved toward the object side integrally with the fourth lensgroup G4 upon zooming.

Consequently, upon zooming, the distance between the first lens group G1and the second lens group G2 is increased, the distance between thesecond lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 is decreased, and thedistance between the fourth lens group G4 and the fifth lens group G5 isincreased. The distance between the third lens group G3 and the fourthlens group G4 is increased from the wide-angle end state to the firstintermediate focal length state, it is decreased from the firstintermediate focal length state to the second intermediate focal lengthstate, and it is increased from the second intermediate focal lengthstate to the telephoto end state. Meanwhile, upon zooming, a distancebetween the aperture stop S and the third lens group G3 is decreasedfrom the wide-angle end state to the first intermediate focal lengthstate, it is increased from the first intermediate focal length state tothe second intermediate focal length state, and it is decreased from thesecond intermediate focal length state to the telephoto end state.

Table 4 below shows various values of the variable magnification opticalsystem according to the present Example.

TABLE 4 Fourth Example [Surface Data] m r d nd νd OP ∞ 1 128.2103 1.63501.950000 29.37 2 42.8046 8.6432 1.497820 82.57 3 −200.0000 0.1000 442.6819 4.9663 1.816000 46.59 5 290.0414 d5  *6 500.0000 1.0000 1.85135040.10 7 9.6706 3.8612 8 −31.6340 1.0000 1.883000 40.66 9 50.5774 0.386010 20.2802 4.0969 1.808090 22.74 11 −12.7389 1.0000 1.902650 35.73 12182.6358 d12 13 ∞ d13 Aperture Stop S 14 22.0943 1.0000 1.883000 40.6615 12.0211 3.4295 1.593190 67.90 16 −54.4618 d16 17 13.5315 7.01291.816000 46.59 18 20.2242 1.0000 1.850260 32.35 19 10.9126 2.0000 2018.6799 3.1628 1.516800 63.88 21 −12.1205 1.0000 1.850260 32.35 22−21.9214 1.5000 *23 −2373.2040 1.0000 1.806100 40.71 24 15.4976 2.342625 18.1342 5.9256 1.567320 42.58 26 −8.0000 1.0000 1.851350 40.10 *27−22.6238 d27 28 −75.6072 2.0606 1.497820 82.57 29 −18.0744 1.00001.834410 37.28 *30 −25.8110 BF I ∞ [Aspherical Data] m 6 κ −9.00000 A4 1.14894E−05 A6  2.79933E−07 A8 −1.11589E−08 A10  1.42629E−10 A12−6.44930E−13 m 23 κ 1.00000 A4 −3.10495E−05 A6  4.64001E−07 A8−2.52074E−09 A10  1.73753E−10 A12 0.00000 m 27 κ 1.0000 A4 −5.63578E−05A6 −8.97938E−08 A8  1.47935E−09 A10 −1.36135E−11 A12 0.00000 m 30 κ1.00000 A4  2.81743E−05 A6 −2.96842E−08 A8 −7.80468E−10 A10 0.00000 A120.00000 [Various Data] zoom ratio 14.13 W T f 10.30~ 145.50 FNO 4.12~5.77 ω 39.65~ 3.02° Y 8.00~ 8.00 TL 107.35~ 157.35 W M1 M2 M3 T f10.30004 17.99586 60.49785 100.49280 145.50011 ω 39.65487 23.021217.21558 4.36760 3.01679 FNO 4.12 4.94 5.67 5.75 5.77 φ 8.34 8.34 9.089.22 10.26 d5 2.10000 12.12447 32.02336 38.52508 41.21393 d12 22.2385016.63220 7.10168 3.99200 2.20000 d13 3.91359 2.69844 3.58860 3.470541.80000 d16 3.65694 4.87210 3.98194 4.10000 5.77054 d27 1.26857 9.1323725.54504 27.42933 32.19314 BF 14.04952 14.04918 14.04790 14.0491414.04886 [Lens Group Data] ST f G1 1 62.23195 G2 6 −9.03822 G3 1437.53030 G4 17 49.24516 G5 28 130.00164 [Values for ConditionalExpressions] (1-1) (−f2)/fw = 0.877 (1-2) f3/f4 = 0.762 (1-3) (d3t −d3w)/fw = 0.205 (2-1) (−f2)/fw = 0.877 (2-2) (d3t − d3w)/fw = 0.205(3-1) (TLt −TLw)/fw = 4.854 (3-2) (d3t − d3w)/ft = 0.015 (3-3) f1/ft =0.428 (3-4) f3/f4 = 0.762 (4-1) f3/f4 = 0.762 (4-2) (d3t − d3w)/ft =0.015 (4-3) (TLt − TLw)/fw = 4.854 (4-4) f1/ft = 0.428

FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C are graphs showing various aberrations of thevariable magnification optical system according to the Fourth Example ofthe first to fourth embodiments of the present application upon focusingon an infinite distance object, in the wide-angle end state, in thefirst intermediate focal length state, and in the second intermediatefocal length state, respectively.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are graphs showing various aberrations of the variablemagnification optical system according to the Fourth Example of thefirst to fourth embodiments of the present application upon focusing onthe infinite distance object, in the third intermediate focal lengthstate and in the telephoto end state, respectively.

As is apparent from the respective graphs, the variable magnificationoptical system according to the present Example shows good correctionsto various aberrations from the wide-angle end state through thetelephoto end state, and also shows a high optical performance.

According to the Examples as above-mentioned, it is possible to realizea small-size variable magnification optical system having a high zoomratio and a high optical performance.

Note that each of the above described Examples is a concrete example ofthe invention of the present application, and the invention of thepresent application is not limited to them.

The contents described below can be adopted without deteriorating anoptical performance of the variable magnification optical systems of thepresent application.

Although the variable magnification optical systems each having fivegroup configuration were illustrated above as numerical examples of thevariable magnification optical systems of the present application, thepresent application is not limited to them and the variablemagnification optical systems having other configurations (such as sixgroup configuration, seven group configuration and the like) can beconfigured. Concretely, a lens configuration that a lens or a lens groupis added to the most object side of the variable magnification opticalsystem of the present application is possible, and a lens configurationthat a lens or a lens group is added to the most image side of thevariable magnification optical system of the present application is alsopossible. Meanwhile, a lens group indicates a portion including at leastone lens, separated by air interval being variable upon zooming.

Further, in the variable magnification optical system, a portion of alens group, a single lens group in the entirety thereof, or a pluralityof lens groups can be moved in the direction the optical axis as afocusing lens group. It is particularly preferable that at least aportion of the second lens group or at least a portion of the third lensgroup or at least a portion of the fourth lens group or at least aportion of the fifth lens group is moved as the focusing lens group. Thefocusing lens group can be used for auto focus, and suitable for beingdriven by a motor for auto focus such as an ultrasonic motor.

Further, in the variable magnification optical systems of the presentapplication, any lens group in the entirety thereof or a portion thereofcan be so moved, as a vibration reduction lens group, to have acomponent in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, orrotationally moved (swayed) in an intro-plane direction including theoptical axis for correcting an image blur caused by a camera shake.Particularly, in the variable magnification optical systems of thepresent application, it is preferable that at least a portion of thethird lens group or at least a portion of the fourth lens group or atleast a portion of the fifth lens group is used as a vibration reductionlens group.

Further, in the variable magnification optical systems of the presentapplication, a lens surface of a lens may be a spherical surface, aplane surface, or an aspherical surface. When a lens surface is aspherical surface or a plane surface, lens processing, assembling andadjustment become easy, and it is possible to prevent deterioration inoptical performance caused by errors in lens processing, assembling andadjustment, so that it is preferable. Moreover, even if an image planeis shifted, deterioration in representation performance is little, sothat it is preferable. When a lens surface is an aspherical surface, theaspherical surface may be fabricated by a grinding process, a glassmolding process that a glass material is formed into an aspherical shapeby a mold, or a compound type process that a resin material on a glasslens surface is formed into an aspherical shape. A lens surface may be adiffractive optical surface, and a lens may be a graded-index type lens(GRIN lens) or a plastic lens.

Further, in the variable magnification optical systems of the presentapplication, it is preferable that an aperture stop is disposed in thethird lens group or in the vicinity of the third lens group, and thefunction may be substituted by a lens frame without disposing a memberas an aperture stop.

Moreover, the lens surface(s) of the lenses configuring the variablemagnification optical systems of the present application may be coatedwith anti-reflection coating(s) having a high transmittance in a broadwavelength range. With this contrivance, it is feasible to reduce aflare as well as ghost and attain a high optical performance with highcontrast.

Next, a camera equipped with the variable magnification optical systemaccording to the first to fourth embodiments of the present application,will be explained with referring to FIG. 13.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a camera equippedwith the variable magnification optical system according to the first tofourth embodiments of the present application.

A camera 1 is a lens interchangeable type so-called mirror-less cameraequipped with the variable magnification optical system according to theFirst Example as an imaging lens 2, as shown in FIG. 13.

In the camera 1, light emitted from an unillustrated object (an objectto be imaged) is converged by the imaging lens 2, and forms an image ofthe object to be imaged on an imaging plane of an imaging part 3 throughan unillustrated OLPF (optical low pass filter). The image of the objectto be imaged is photo-electronically converted through aphoto-electronic conversion element provided in the imaging part 3 toform an object image. This object image is displayed on an EVF(electronic view finder) 4 provided on the camera 1. Thus, aphotographer can observe the object image through EVF 4.

When the photographer presses an unillustrated release button, theobject image formed through the imaging part 3 is stored in anunillustrated memory. Thus, the photographer can take a picture of theobject to be imaged by the camera 1.

The variable magnification optical system according to the First Examplemounted on the camera 1 as the imaging lens 2 is a small-size variablemagnification optical system having a high zoom ratio and a high opticalperformance. Accordingly, the camera 1 can realize downsizing and a highoptical performance while being provided with a high zoom ratio.Incidentally, even if the camera is so composed that the variablemagnification optical system according to the Second to Fourth Examplesis mounted on the camera as the imaging lens 2, the same effect can beattained as the camera 1. Moreover, the same effect as the above camera1 is attained even in the case where the variable magnification opticalsystem according to each of Examples as described, is mounted on asingle lens reflex-type camera whose camera body is provided with aquick return mirror and in which an object to be imaged is observedthrough a finder optical system.

Next, an outline of a method for manufacturing a variable magnificationoptical system according to the first embodiment of the presentapplication is described with referring to FIG. 14.

In a method for manufacturing a variable magnification optical systemaccording to the first embodiment of the present application, as shownin FIG. 14, the variable magnification optical system comprises, inorder from an object side: a first lens group having positive refractivepower; a second lens group having negative refractive power; a thirdlens group having positive refractive power; a fourth lens group havingpositive refractive power; and a fifth lens group. The method comprisesthe following steps of S11 and S12:

Step S11: arranging the second lens group, the third lens group and thefourth lens group to satisfy the following conditional expressions (1-1)and (1-2) and disposing the first to fifth lens groups in a lens barrelin order from the object side:

0.650<(−f2)/fw<1.240  (1-1)

0.410<f3/f4<1.000  (1-2)

where fw denotes a focal length of the variable magnification opticalsystem in the wide-angle end state, f2 denotes a focal length of thesecond lens group, f3 denotes a focal length of the third lens group,and f4 denotes a focal length of the fourth lens group.

Step S12: by, for example, providing a known movement mechanism at thelens barrel, constructing a distance between the first lens group andthe second lens group, a distance between the second lens group and thethird lens group, a distance between the third lens group and the fourthlens group and a distance between the fourth lens group and the fifthlens group to be varied upon zooming from the wide-angle end state tothe telephoto end state.

Thus, the method for manufacturing the variable magnification opticalsystem according to the first embodiment of the present application canmanufacture a small-size variable magnification optical system having ahigh zoom ratio and a high optical performance.

Next, an outline of a method for manufacturing a variable magnificationoptical system according to the second embodiment of the presentapplication is described with referring to FIG. 15.

In a method for manufacturing a variable magnification optical systemaccording to the second embodiment of the present application, as shownin FIG. 15, the variable magnification optical system comprises, inorder from an object side: a first lens group having positive refractivepower; a second lens group having negative refractive power; a thirdlens group having positive refractive power; a fourth lens group havingpositive refractive power; and a fifth lens group. The method comprisesthe following steps of S21 and S22:

Step S11: arranging the second lens group, the third lens group and thefourth lens group to satisfy the undermentioned conditional expressions(2-1) and (2-2), and disposing the first to fifth lens groups in a lensbarrel in order from the object side:

0.650<(−f2)/fw<1.240  (2-1)

−0.050<(d3t−d3w)/fw<0.750  (2-2)

where fw denotes a focal length of the variable magnification opticalsystem in the wide-angle end state, f2 denotes a focal length of thesecond lens group, d3w denotes a distance from a lens surface on a mostimage side of the third lens group to a lens surface on a most objectside of the fourth lens group in the wide-angle end state, and d3tdenotes a distance from the lens surface on the most image side of thethird lens group to the lens surface on the most object side of thefourth lens group in the telephoto end state.

Step S22: by, for example, providing a known movement mechanism at thelens barrel, arranging, upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to atelephoto end state, a distance between the first lens group and thesecond lens group, a distance between the second lens group and thethird lens group, a distance between the third lens group and the fourthlens group and a distance between the fourth lens group and the fifthlens group to be varied.

Thus, the method for manufacturing the variable magnification opticalsystem according to the second embodiment of the present application canmanufacture a small-size variable magnification optical system having ahigh zoom ratio and a high optical performance.

Next, an outline of a method for manufacturing a variable magnificationoptical system according to the third embodiment of the presentapplication is described with referring to FIG. 16.

In a method for manufacturing a variable magnification optical systemaccording to the third embodiment of the present application, as shownin FIG. 16, the variable magnification optical system comprises, inorder from an object side: a first lens group having positive refractivepower; a second lens group having negative refractive power; a thirdlens group having positive refractive power; a fourth lens group havingpositive refractive power; and a fifth lens group. The method comprisesthe following steps of S31 and S32:

Step S31: arranging the first to fifth lens groups to satisfy theundermentioned conditional expressions (3-1) and (3-2), and disposingthe respective lens groups in a lens barrel in order from the objectside:

4.000<(TLt−TLw)/fw<7.000  (3-1)

−0.010<(d3t−d3w)/ft<0.130  (3-2)

where fw denotes a focal length of the variable magnification opticalsystem in the wide-angle end state, ft denotes a focal length of thevariable magnification optical system in the telephoto end state, TLwdenotes a distance from a lens surface on a most object side of thefirst lens group to an image plane in the wide-angle end state, TLtdenotes a distance from the lens surface on the most object side of thefirst lens group to the image plane in the telephoto end state, d3wdenotes a distance from a lens surface on a most image side of the thirdlens group to a lens surface on a most object side of the fourth lensgroup in the wide-angle end state, and d3t denotes a distance from thelens surface on the most image side of the third lens group to the lenssurface on the most object side of the fourth lens group in thetelephoto end state.

Step S32: by, for example, providing a known movement mechanism at thelens barrel, arranging, upon zooming from the wide-angle end state tothe telephoto end state, a distance between the first lens group and thesecond lens group, a distance between the second lens group and thethird lens group, a distance between the third lens group and the fourthlens group and a distance between the fourth lens group and the fifthlens group to be varied.

Thus, the method for manufacturing the variable magnification opticalsystem according to the third embodiment of the present application canmanufacture a small-size variable magnification optical system having ahigh zoom ratio and a high optical performance.

Finally, an outline of a method for manufacturing a variablemagnification optical system according to the fourth embodiment of thepresent application is described with referring to FIG. 17.

In a method for manufacturing a variable magnification optical systemaccording to the fourth embodiment of the present application, as shownin FIG. 17, the variable magnification optical system comprises, inorder from an object side: a first lens group having positive refractivepower; a second lens group having negative refractive power; an aperturestop; a third lens group having positive refractive power; a fourth lensgroup having positive refractive power; and a fifth lens group. Themethod comprises the following steps of S41 and S42:

Step S41: disposing the first lens group having positive refractivepower; the second lens group having negative refractive power; theaperture stop S; the third lens group having positive refractive power;the fourth lens group having positive refractive power; and the fifthlens group, in a lens barrel in order from the object side

Step S42: by, for example, providing a known movement mechanism at thelens barrel, arranging, upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to atelephoto end state, a distance between the first lens group and thesecond lens group, a distance between the second lens group and thethird lens group, a distance between the third lens group and the fourthlens group and a distance between the fourth lens group and the fifthlens group to be varied, and a distance between the aperture stop andthe fourth lens group to be fixed.

Thus, the method for manufacturing the variable magnification opticalsystem according to the fourth embodiment of the present application canmanufacture a small-size variable magnification optical system having ahigh zoom ratio and a high optical performance.

What is claimed is:
 1. A variable magnification optical systemcomprising, in order from an object side: a first lens group havingpositive refractive power; a second lens group having negativerefractive power; a third lens group having positive refractive power; afourth lens group having positive refractive power; and a fifth lensgroup; upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto endstate, a distance between the first lens group and the second lensgroup, a distance between the second lens group and the third lensgroup, a distance between the third lens group and the fourth lens groupand a distance between the fourth lens group and the fifth lens groupbeing varied; the following conditional expressions being satisfied:0.650<(−f2)/fw<1.2400.410<f3/f4<1.000 where fw denotes a focal length of the variablemagnification optical system in the wide-angle end state, f2 denotes afocal length of the second lens group, f3 denotes a focal length of thethird lens group, and f4 denotes a focal length of the fourth lensgroup.
 2. A variable magnification optical system according to claim 1,wherein the following conditional expression is satisfied:−0.050<(d3t−d3w)/fw<0.750 where fw denotes the focal length of thevariable magnification optical system in the wide-angle end state, d3wdenotes a distance from a lens surface on a most image side of the thirdlens group to a lens surface on a most object side of the fourth lensgroup in the wide-angle end state, and d3t denotes a distance from thelens surface on the most image side of the third lens group to the lenssurface on the most object side of the fourth lens group in thetelephoto end state.
 3. A variable magnification optical systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the first lens group is moved toward theobject side upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to the telephotoend state.
 4. A variable magnification optical system according to claim1, wherein the fifth lens group has positive refractive power.
 5. Avariable magnification optical system according to claim 1, wherein adistance between the first lens group and the second lens group isincreased upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to the telephotoend state.
 6. A variable magnification optical system according to claim1, wherein a distance between the second lens group and the third lensgroup is decreased upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to thetelephoto end state.
 7. A variable magnification optical systemaccording to claim 1, wherein a distance between the fourth lens groupand the fifth lens group is increased upon zooming from the wide-angleend state to the telephoto end state.
 8. A variable magnificationoptical system according to claim 1, wherein the fifth lens group isfixed in a position upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to thetelephoto end state.
 9. A variable magnification optical systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the following conditional expression issatisfied:4.000<(TLt−TLw)/fw<7.000 where fw denotes the focal length of thevariable magnification optical system in the wide-angle end state, TLwdenotes a distance from a lens surface on a most object side of thefirst lens group to an image plane in the wide-angle end state, and TLtdenotes a distance from the lens surface on the most object side of thefirst lens group to the image plane in the telephoto end state.
 10. Avariable magnification optical system according to claim 1, wherein thefollowing conditional expression is satisfied:−0.010<(d3t−d3w)/ft<0.130 where ft denotes a focal length of thevariable magnification optical system in the telephoto end state, d3wdenotes a distance from a lens surface on a most image side of the thirdlens group to a lens surface on a most object side of the fourth lensgroup in the wide-angle end state, and d3t denotes a distance from thelens surface on the most image side of the third lens group to the lenssurface on the most object side of the fourth lens group in thetelephoto end state.
 11. A variable magnification optical systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the following conditional expression issatisfied:0.300<f1/ft<0.555 where ft denotes a focal length of the variablemagnification optical system in the telephoto end state and f1 denotes afocal length of the first lens group.
 12. A variable magnificationoptical system according to claim 1, further comprising an aperture stopbetween the second lens group and the third lens group, wherein uponzooming from the wide-angle end state to the telephoto end state, adistance between the aperture stop and the fourth lens group is fixed.13. An optical apparatus comprising a variable magnification opticalsystem according to claim
 1. 14. A variable magnification optical systemcomprising, in order from an object side: a first lens group havingpositive refractive power; a second lens group having negativerefractive power; a third lens group having positive refractive power; afourth lens group having positive refractive power; and a fifth lensgroup; upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto endstate, a distance between the first lens group and the second lensgroup, a distance between the second lens group and the third lensgroup, a distance between the third lens group and the fourth lens groupand a distance between the fourth lens group and the fifth lens groupbeing varied; the following conditional expressions being satisfied:0.650<(−f2)/fw<1.240−0.050<(d3t−d3w)/fw<0.750 where fw denotes a focal length of thevariable magnification optical system in the wide-angle end state, f2denotes a focal length of the second lens group, d3w denotes a distancefrom a lens surface on a most image side of the third lens group to alens surface on a most object side of the fourth lens group in thewide-angle end state, and d3t denotes a distance from the lens surfaceon the most image side of the third lens group to the lens surface onthe most object side of the fourth lens group in the telephoto endstate.
 15. An optical apparatus comprising a variable magnificationoptical system according to claim
 14. 16. A variable magnificationoptical system comprising, in order from an object side: a first lensgroup having positive refractive power; a second lens group havingnegative refractive power; a third lens group having positive refractivepower; a fourth lens group having positive refractive power; and a fifthlens group; upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto endstate, a distance between the first lens group and the second lensgroup, a distance between the second lens group and the third lensgroup, a distance between the third lens group and the fourth lens groupand a distance between the fourth lens group and the fifth lens groupbeing varied; the following conditional expressions being satisfied:4.000<(TLt−TLw)/fw<7.000−0.010<(d3t−d3w)/ft<0.130 where fw denotes a focal length of thevariable magnification optical system in the wide-angle end state, ftdenotes a focal length of the variable magnification optical system inthe telephoto end state, TLw denotes a distance from a lens surface on amost object side of the first lens group to an image plane in thewide-angle end state, TLt denotes a distance from the lens surface onthe most object side of the first lens group to the image plane in thetelephoto end state, d3w denotes a distance from a lens surface on amost image side of the third lens group to a lens surface on a mostobject side of the fourth lens group in the wide-angle end state, andd3t denotes a distance from the lens surface on the most image side ofthe third lens group to the lens surface on the most object side of thefourth lens group in the telephoto end state.
 17. A variablemagnification optical system according to claim 16, wherein thefollowing conditional expression is satisfied:0.300<f1/ft<0.555 where ft denotes the focal length of the variablemagnification optical system in the telephoto end state and f1 denotes afocal length of the first lens group.
 18. A variable magnificationoptical system according to claim 16, wherein the following conditionalexpression is satisfied:0.410<f3/f4<1.000 where f3 denotes a focal length of the third lensgroup, and f4 denotes a focal length of the fourth lens group.
 19. Anoptical apparatus comprising a variable magnification optical systemaccording to claim
 16. 20. A variable magnification optical systemcomprising, in order from an object side: a first lens group havingpositive refractive power; a second lens group having negativerefractive power; an aperture stop; a third lens group having positiverefractive power; a fourth lens group having positive refractive power;and a fifth lens group; upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to atelephoto end state, a distance between the first lens group and thesecond lens group, a distance between the second lens group and thethird lens group, a distance between the third lens group and the fourthlens group and a distance between the fourth lens group and the fifthlens group being varied, and a distance between the aperture stop andthe fourth lens group being fixed.
 21. A variable magnification opticalsystem according to claim 20, wherein the following conditionalexpression is satisfied:0.410<f3/f4<1.000 where f3 denotes a focal length of the third lensgroup, and f4 denotes a focal length of the fourth lens group.
 22. Avariable magnification optical system according to claim 20, wherein thefollowing conditional expression is satisfied:−0.010<(d3t−d3w)/ft<0.130 where ft denotes a whole system focal lengthof the variable magnification optical system in the telephoto end state,d3w denotes a distance on the optical axis from a lens surface on a mostimage side of the third lens group to a lens surface on a most objectside of the fourth lens group in the wide-angle end state, and d3tdenotes a distance on the optical axis from the lens surface on the mostimage side of the third lens group to the lens surface on the mostobject side of the fourth lens group in the telephoto end state.
 23. Avariable magnification optical system according to claim 20, wherein thefollowing conditional expression is satisfied:1.000<(TLt−TLw)/fw<7.000 where fw denotes a whole system focal length ofthe variable magnification optical system in the wide-angle end state,TLw denotes a distance on the optical axis from a lens surface on a mostobject side of the first lens group to an image plane in the wide-angleend state, and TLt denotes a distance on the optical axis from the lenssurface on the most object side of the first lens group to the imageplane in the telephoto end state.
 24. A variable magnification opticalsystem according to claim 20, wherein the following conditionalexpression is satisfied:0.300<f1/ft<0.555 where ft denotes a whole system focal length of thevariable magnification optical system in the telephoto end state and f1denotes a focal length of the first lens group.
 25. An optical apparatuscomprising a variable magnification optical system according to claim20.
 26. A method for manufacturing a variable magnification opticalsystem comprising, in order from an object side: a first lens grouphaving positive refractive power; a second lens group having negativerefractive power; a third lens group having positive refractive power; afourth lens group having positive refractive power; and a fifth lensgroup; the method comprising the steps of: arranging the second lensgroup, the third lens group and the fourth lens group to satisfy theundermentioned conditional expressions; and arranging, upon zooming froma wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state, a distance between thefirst lens group and the second lens group, a distance between thesecond lens group and the third lens group, a distance between the thirdlens group and the fourth lens group and a distance between the fourthlens group and the fifth lens group to be varied:0.650<(−f2)/fw<1.2400.410<f3/f4<1.000 where fw denotes a focal length of the variablemagnification optical system in the wide-angle end state, f2 denotes afocal length of the second lens group, f3 denotes a focal length of thethird lens group, and f4 denotes a focal length of the fourth lensgroup.
 27. A method for manufacturing a variable magnification opticalsystem comprising, in order from an object side: a first lens grouphaving positive refractive power; a second lens group having negativerefractive power; a third lens group having positive refractive power; afourth lens group having positive refractive power; and a fifth lensgroup; the method comprising the steps of: arranging the second lensgroup, the third lens group and the fourth lens group to satisfy theundermentioned conditional expressions; and arranging, upon zooming froma wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state, a distance between thefirst lens group and the second lens group, a distance between thesecond lens group and the third lens group, a distance between the thirdlens group and the fourth lens group and a distance between the fourthlens group and the fifth lens group to be varied:0.650<(−f2)/fw<1.240−0.050<(d3t−d3w)/fw<0.750 where fw denotes a focal length of thevariable magnification optical system in the wide-angle end state, f2denotes a focal length of the second lens group, d3w denotes a distancefrom a lens surface on a most image side of the third lens group to alens surface on a most object side of the fourth lens group in thewide-angle end state, and d3t denotes a distance from the lens surfaceon the most image side of the third lens group to the lens surface onthe most object side of the fourth lens group in the telephoto endstate.
 28. A method for manufacturing a variable magnification opticalsystem comprising, in order from an object side: a first lens grouphaving positive refractive power; a second lens group having negativerefractive power; a third lens group having positive refractive power; afourth lens group having positive refractive power; and a fifth lensgroup; the method comprising the steps of: arranging the first lensgroup, the second lens group, the third lens group, the fourth lensgroup and the fifth lens group to satisfy the undermentioned conditionalexpressions; and arranging, upon zooming from a wide-angle end state toa telephoto end state, a distance between the first lens group and thesecond lens group, a distance between the second lens group and thethird lens group, a distance between the third lens group and the fourthlens group and a distance between the fourth lens group and the fifthlens group to be varied:4.000<(TLt−TLw)/fw<7.000−0.010<(d3t−d3w)/ft<0.130 where fw denotes a focal length of thevariable magnification optical system in the wide-angle end state, ftdenotes a focal length of the variable magnification optical system inthe telephoto end state, TLw denotes a distance from a lens surface on amost object side of the first lens group to an image plane in thewide-angle end state, TLt denotes a distance from the lens surface onthe most object side of the first lens group to the image plane in thetelephoto end state, d3w denotes a distance from a lens surface on amost image side of the third lens group to a lens surface on a mostobject side of the fourth lens group in the wide-angle end state, andd3t denotes a distance from the lens surface on the most image side ofthe third lens group to a lens surface on the most object side of thefourth lens group in the telephoto end state.
 29. A method formanufacturing a variable magnification optical system comprising, inorder from an object side: a first lens group having positive refractivepower; a second lens group having negative refractive power; an aperturestop; a third lens group having positive refractive power; a fourth lensgroup having positive refractive power; and a fifth lens group; themethod comprising the steps of: arranging, upon zooming from awide-angle end state to a telephoto end state, a distance between thefirst lens group and the second lens group, a distance between thesecond lens group and the third lens group, a distance between the thirdlens group and the fourth lens group and a distance between the fourthlens group and the fifth lens group to be varied, and a distance betweenthe aperture stop and the fourth lens group to be fixed.